69-Year-Old Florida Man Charged With Embezzling $1.5 Million From Court Funds
Friday, June 21, 2024, 10:00 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
HACKENSACK, NJ.- Yesterday, a 69-year-old Davie, Florida man was taken into custody and jailed after being charged in connection with the theft of approximately $1.5 million in funds that were collected through civil court orders.
According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, In September 2023, the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts forwarded information to the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit an allegation of the misappropriation of funds involving a former court officer who was responsible for money collection according to civil court orders.
Detectives of the Bergen County Financial Crimes Unit began a criminal investigation into the allegations. The comprehensive, months-long investigation uncovered that Bruse Piekarsky, 69, of Davie, Florida, mishandled funds he was entrusted to collect beginning in 2014. An audit of his activity revealed approximately $1.5 million in missing funds that were collected by him as a court officer.
Accordingly, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, Piekarsky was taken into custody at the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office in Paramus, New Jersey, and formally charged with second-degree Theft; second-degree Misapplication of Entrusted Property; and third-degree Tampering with Public Records.
Following being processed on the charges, Piekarsky was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending future court proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.
"The rules of the court requires us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER: JUNE 21, 2024: LAW, LOCAL, BERGEN: