Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said today that a former President and Treasurer of AFSCME Local 176, who was formerly employed at Rutgers University, pleaded guilty to stealing more than $75,000 from the union between 2012 and 2018.
Middlesex County officials said Shelby Hyman, 52, of Somerset, pleaded guilty on July 26, 2019, in New Brunswick Superior Court to one count of second-degree misapplication of entrusted funds, admitting that she took funds that were entrusted to her as either president or treasurer of the union local and used the funds for her personal benefit.
Officials say under the plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Brian D. Gillet, the defendant is to be sentenced to a term of four years in a New Jersey State Prison.
In addition, Hyman agreed to repay the amount she stole from the union, currently estimated at $176,653.00. She has already forfeited her job at Rutgers and agreed to be permanently banned from public employment.
She is scheduled to be sentenced on October 18, 2019 by Superior Court Judge Benjamin Bucca, Jr. in New Brunswick.
Hyman was charged on December 11, 2018 following an investigation by Detective Kevin Schroeck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, and Detective Brandt Gregus of the New Brunswick Police Department.
During the investigation it was determined that while serving as treasurer and president of the union, between January 1, 2012 and July 31, 2018, Hyman stole funds in possession of the union in excess of $75,000. She then utilized the funds for her own personal use.