Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey said that an Edison police captain, who is now retired, today admitted stealing more than $38,000 from the township while working another job.
Natale A. Fresco, 61, of Edison pleaded guilty in New Brunswick to a count of third degree theft by unlawful taking, admitting he was working as a mall security guard while he was taking sick time as a township police officer.
Under a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Christine D’Elia, the defendant may be sentenced to serve up to 180 days in custody and placed on probation.
In addition, Fresco agreed to repay the amount he stole from the township, currently estimated at $38,162.
He also will forfeit his public job and will be banned from public employment.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 11, 2016 by Superior Court Judge Colleen M. Flynn.
Fresco, known as “Andy,” was charged on November 5, 2015 during an investigation by Detective Nicholas Chiorello of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office after it was determined that he collected the payments before retiring on October 1, 2015.
The investigation further showed that Fresco collected the payments while working as a security guard at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison between July 15, 2015 and September 30, 2015.