Thomas Rica - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on November 20, 2017 November 20, 2017

Reader says Personally, I think that the Village was okay with no jail time for Tommy Boy

Personally, I think that the Village was okay with no jail time for Tommy Boy because if they weren’t, he would have made embarrassing statements in court that would have exposed how easy it was for him to steal the money. Also, he would have revealed who else either stole in the past, or was currently stealing. It would have been very bad press for the Village. And the Village knew they were being covered by insurance, so it wasn’t their problem to collect from Tommy anyway. It’s now the insurance company’s problem. I wonder how long it will be before the insurance company puts a lien to Tommy’s house, or just takes the house?

Posted on November 19, 2017 November 19, 2017

Reader asks can you imagine how much money must’ve been stolen throughout past 40 years before this incident ?

We wonder who else knew about this. Some say he had help you never know right. But really can you imagine how much money must’ve been stolen throughout past 40 years before this incident. Do you think he’s the first person, we doubt it very much. Back in the day when all the books used to be pencil and paper no computers maybe one or two people controlling all the funds coming in and going , It would not shock me in one second . In the end accountant has the full power see a file to invest not invest please. Maybe in the end the village deserved it. Can you imagine what he knows all the dirt skeletons yeah. And boy oh boy there’s a lot of it ‘ especially back in the day when the Ridgewood counsel controlled all the newspapers in town the local press the real estate market in So on , Just like the Nazis did in Germany same shit, just a different continent, and you know it’s sick they know it to

Posted on June 4, 2017 June 4, 2017

These 12 N.J. workers and officials have been accused of stealing public funds

Ridgewood Meter thief not the only

Updated June 04, 2017
Posted June 04, 2017

These public workers, including teachers, city clerks, and public figures, have been accused of stealing and scamming state money. In many cases, that feat became possible when individuals obtained sole access to accounts holding public funds.

Some have been sentenced to probation or time behind bars, while others’ cases remain active. Below are 15 incidents in which workers were accused of theft.

https://www.nj.com/burlington/index.ssf/2017/06/public_figures_who_stole_funds.html#incart_2box_nj-homepage-featured

Posted on October 18, 2016 October 18, 2016

Ridgewood Meter Money Still Missing

October 18,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, According to Activist Bill Brennan , when $860,000 in parking meter change was stolen from the Village of Ridgewood no one expected that Thomas Rica’s confession would allow him to pay back a mere $250,000 and avoid spending any time in jail whatsoever….When Brennan wrote this in August of 2015, Rica has paid back less than $100,000 of the $860,000 that went missing and he will never serve a day in jail for his crime.

Readers find it hard to believe Ridgewood meter thief acted alone and went unnoticed for so long
https://theridgewoodblog.net/readers-find-it-hard-to-believe-meter-thief-acted-alone-and-went-unnoticed-for-so-long/

10 Year Old Ryan Leo Kamm asks ,How did coin thief get away?
https://theridgewoodblog.net/10-year-old-ryan-leo-kamm-asks-how-did-coin-thief-get-away/

Posted on February 11, 2015 June 27, 2021

Auditors Report on Ridgewood Parking Utility raises serious questions as to whether other people also participated in this theft against the Village

Auditors Report on Ridgewood Parking Utility raises serious questions as to whether other people also participated in this theft against the Village

Ridgewood NJ, In a statement released by the Mayor ,Council and Village Manager :

On March 19, 2014, following an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, former Ridgewood employee Thomas Rica admitted in Bergen County Superior Court to stealing $460,000 from the municipality’s parking utility over about a 3-year period – from 2010 to January 2013. At that hearing, Mr. Rica entered into a plea agreement in which, among other things, he was required to repay the amount of $460,000.

Following that hearing and a subsequent July 10, 2014 sentencing hearing, the Village of Ridgewood’s insurance carrier, the Municipal Excess Liability Fund, hired a forensic accounting firm, Nisivoccia LLP, to undertake a comprehensive audit of the loss incurred by the Village’s parking utility. That audit is now complete.

Yesterday, we received Nisivoccia’s final report, which concludes that over a similar period of time, approximately $850,000 was stolen from the Village. The auditor’s conclusion is very disturbing and raises serious questions concerning the scope and method of the crime or crimes that have been committed against the Village. Most notably, it raises the question as to whether other people also participated in this theft against the Village, acting independently or in cooperation with Mr. Rica.

Although we have taken and continue to take several concrete steps to strengthen controls on parking utility revenues, we believe that it is absolutely necessary to try to determine the full extent of the theft[s] committed during the 2010 to January 2013 period.

We are therefore exploring all of our legal options, including possibly starting a Ridgewood Police investigation into this matter. We will make a determination as to next legal steps within weeks.

We are continuing to work with Nisivoccia LLP to review our processes and controls – past and present – to determine if negligence and/or procedural violations contributed to the theft[s} and what steps, if any, still need to be taken to prevent theft going forward.

We are continuing to work with the Municipal Excess Liability Fund to recoup all of the monies stolen from the Village. This is a top priority.

posted on the VOR web sit:

https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/2015Report.pdf

https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/manager/2015Rica.pdf

Posted on February 11, 2015 February 10, 2015

Ridgewood officials: Probe finds another $377,000 in meter quarters stolen

Ridgewood officials: Probe finds another $377,000 in meter quarters stolen

FEBRUARY 10, 2015, 11:24 AM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015, 8:33 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Auditors found that nearly $850,000 was in fact stolen from the now-infamous coin room where collected parking meter quarters were stored. Thomas Rica, the village’s former public works inspector, admitted pilfering fistfuls of quarters from the room last March.

Rica said he stole $460,000 and received no jail time, according to a plea deal he reached with the county prosecutor’s office. A judge upheld the agreement for five years’ probation, which disappointed local officials who were pleased, though, that Rica would be forced to pay back at least half of the money.

Rica’s former attorney scoffed at the notion his client stole more quarters, and even village officials suggested there might be an accomplice.

The audit, released by the village Tuesday and delivered to its insurance fund the day before, uncovered a timeline of theft that started in 2010 — a year earlier than previously reported by authorities.

Using information from interviews with village employees as well as Rica’s own financial records, which were turned over to the village by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, auditors determined Rica deposited $471,815.05 to his various bank accounts between 2010 and his arrest on Jan. 13, 2013.

In the first two weeks of 2013 alone, the findings show Rica stole $10,413.51. In 2012, the audit report indicates he took $375,647.84 in quarters. The audit estimated $297,234.34 went missing in 2011, and that Rica pocketed $166,045.89 in 2010.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-officials-probe-finds-another-377-000-in-meter-quarters-stolen-1.1268169

Posted on July 9, 2014 July 9, 2014

Ex-Ridgewood inspector apologizes for stealing nearly half a million dollars in quarters

Ex-Ridgewood inspector apologizes for stealing nearly half a million dollars in quarters

JULY 9, 2014, 2:39 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014, 2:57 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

HACKENSACK — Ridgewood’s former public works inspector repeatedly apologized on Wednesday for stealing nearly half a million dollars in loose parking meter quarters from the village.

“I am sorry for what I have done,” Thomas Rica told Judge Patrick Roma moments before being sentenced to five years’ probation. “I am very sorry. I’m…I’m just sorry.”

Rica, who lives in Hawthorne, was employed by the village for 10 years before his arrest early last year.

As part of a plea deal accepted by Roma Wednesday, Rica plead to four counts of third-degree theft, and will pay back a little more than half of what he admits he stole from his former employers.

Rica admitted in March to taking the coins over more than two years from a storage room within Village Hall.

Defending the plea agreement Wednesday, Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Daniel Keitel said it took months to negotiate and will “get as much of the money back to the public as quickly as possible.”

Had the state tried Rica for second-degree theft, Keitel said he may have faced five years behind bars, but would not have been legally bound to return any of the stolen money

Rica’s lawyer, Robert Galuntucci, handed Keitel a check during Wednesday’s proceedings for $64,337.55 — his client’s initial downpayment.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/ex-ridgewood-inspector-apologizes-for-stealing-nearly-half-a-million-dollars-in-quarters-1.1048475#sthash.KjdspT3o.dpuf

Posted on April 3, 2014 April 3, 2014

New Ridgewood manager to oversee Parking Utility to prevent future thefts

New Ridgewood manager to oversee Parking Utility to prevent future thefts

APRIL 2, 2014, 9:39 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014, 9:39 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — The new village manager said she would temporarily oversee the Parking Utility to protect future thefts of money after an employee stole nearly half-million dollars in coins over two years.

Roberta Sonenfeld also called for “independent reviews of each of the areas where we accept cash and checks to insure proper controls are in place.”

The move comes after Thomas Rica admitted last month sneaking handfuls of quarters out of the parking meter coin storage room. Rica, who was working as the village’s public works inspector, did not have authorization to be in the room, but carried a master key because of his job duties. He was later fired and struck a plea deal last month with prosecutors that will see him repay the entire amount — $460,000 — in monthly increments of at least $2,000.

Rica will be sentenced in June to five year’s probation, under the terms of the deal; he will avoid serving any prison time.

Sonenfeld, who started as village manager earlier this week, told the village council at its meeting Wednesday night a forensic review of Ridgewood’s financials should occur soon.

An independent review, analyzing the way the village manages its parking meter revenues, will also be undertaken, she added.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/new-ridgewood-manager-to-oversee-parking-utility-to-prevent-future-thefts-1.840084#sthash.pfY3khAv.dpuf