Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that the former chief financial officer for a nonprofit organization that provides services to individuals with autism was sentenced to prison today for stealing nearly $115,000 from the organization for his personal use.
Officials say Peter Pflug, 56, of Freehold, the former chief financial officer for New Horizons in Autism, was sentenced today to three years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Ellen Torregrossa-O’Connor in Monmouth County. Pflug pleaded guilty on Jan. 22 to a second-degree charge of theft by unlawful taking. Officials say Pflug must pay full restitution to the organization.
According to authorities, Pflug was indicted in an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. New Horizons, a nonprofit based in Monmouth County, provides services to individuals with autism, including through the operation of group homes. New Horizons receives the vast majority of the funding for its programs through a contract with the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. Pflug, as chief financial officer of New Horizons, was entrusted with use of the organization’s credit cards and checking accounts to make purchases for the nonprofit.
The investigation revealed that between June 2015 and February 2018, Pflug, without authorization, used the nonprofit’s accounts to make approximately $114,917 in personal expenditures, frequently recording the products and services as purchases made for group homes operated by the nonprofit. Detectives executed a search warrant in April 2018 at Pflug’s home, where they identified numerous items and home improvements paid for using New Horizons credit cards and financial accounts.
“Pflug abused his position as chief financial officer of this nonprofit by stealing nearly $115,000 in funds – consisting mostly of tax dollars – that were intended to provide services to individuals with autism,” said Attorney General Grewal. “This prison sentence sends a strong message that those who steal and abuse their positions of trust will be held accountable.”
“Pflug betrayed the nonprofit that employed him and the vulnerable population served by the nonprofit,” said Director Thomas Eicher of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “Moreover, he stole from New Jersey taxpayers. We have zero tolerance for this type of corrupt conduct.”
Attorney General Grewal and Director Eicher noted that the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability has a toll-free Tipline 1-844-OPIA-TIPS for the public to report corruption, financial crimes and other illegal activities confidentially.