Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Christopher L.C. Kuberiet said a former President and Treasurer of AFSCME Local 176, who was formerly employed at Rutgers University, was sentenced today to serve four years in prison for stealing $176,0000 from the union between 2012 and 2018.
Officials say, Shelby Hyman, 52, of Somerset, was sentenced to 4 years in a New Jersey State Prison. In addition, Superior Court Judge Benjamin Bucca Jr. ordered the defendant to pay restitution in the amount of $176,0000, which she stole from the union.
In October 2019, Hyman made a restitution payment in the amount of $10,000 and was responsible for paying an additional $25,000 upon her release from prison.
At sentencing, Judge Bucca indicated that he wanted to send a strong message to demonstrate there are serious consequences for stealing entrusted monies.
The sentenced was imposed after Hyman pleaded guilty on July 26, 2019, in accordance with a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Brian D. Gillet, to second-degree misapplication of entrusted funds, admitting that between January 1, 2012, and July 31, 2018.
She stole funds that were entrusted to her as either president or treasurer of the Union local and used the funds for her personal benefit according to officials.
The defendant was arrested and charged following an investigation by Detective Kevin Schroeck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and Detective Brandt Gregus of the New Brunswick Police Department.