By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on January 31, Daniel Santaniello, 46, of Brick Township, was sentenced by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., to a three-year probationary term relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Theft in connection with his former position as Director of Recreation for the Township of Brick.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated that Santaniello was required to resign from his position with Brick Township and forfeit any and all future public employment.
Santaniello has paid full restitution in the amount of approximately $9,260.00, OCPO officials said
According to Ocean County officials, Santaniello pled guilty to the charge before Judge Ryan on December 10, 2024.
This charge is the result of a joint investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, Brick Township Police Department, Brick Township Police Department Internal Affairs Unit, and Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, OCPO authorities say.
Brick Township Police said that the investigation revealed that in his position as Director of Recreation, Santaniello was responsible for issuing permits to private organizations for utilizing the township’s recreational facilities, including the township’s various softball fields.
Private organizations wishing to utilize the fields were charged fees for their usage, OCPO officials stated.
Ocean County officials said the investigation further revealed that Santaniello required certain organizations wishing to utilize the township’s fields to pay him directly in cash, rather than issuing checks to the township.
Instead of depositing the cash into the township’s accounts, Santaniello kept the monies for himself, according to Ocean County authorities.
In order to conceal his theft, Santaniello provided the private organizations who paid him in cash with fraudulent permits, Brick Township Police stated.
According to OCPO officials, on July 17, 2024, Santaniello was taken into custody at his residence without incident by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and Brick Township Police Department.
He was processed and served with the charges via summons pending upcoming appearances in Ocean County Superior Court, County officials say.