Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that two suspended supervisors for the North Bergen Township Department of Public Works were convicted at trial today of official misconduct and other charges for assigning municipal employees to work on election campaigns and to complete personal chores or projects for them or their boss, Superintendent James Wiley.
Troy Bunero, 48, of North Bergen, and Francis “Frank” Longo, 49, of Ridgefield Park, were convicted by a Hudson County jury of second-degree charges of conspiracy, official misconduct and pattern of official misconduct, as well as third-degree charges of theft by unlawful taking and misapplication of government property.
In addition, Bunero was convicted of third-degree tampering with public records and fourth-degree falsifying records for submitting false timesheets.
The verdict followed a seven-week trial before Superior Court Judge Paul M. DePascale.
Bunero and Longo are required by law to forfeit their jobs and will be permanently barred from public employment.
Their sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 18.
James Wiley, 69, the former superintendent of the North Bergen Department of Public Works, pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, 2012 to conspiracy to commit official misconduct, admitting he directed municipal employees to perform hundreds of hours of work at his home, doing housecleaning, yard work and special projects, all while being paid by the township.
He also admitted assigning township employees to work on election campaigns. Wiley is awaiting sentencing. He faces five to 10 years in state prison and must repay the township.
As supervisors for the Department of Public Works (DPW), Bunero and Longo served under Wiley and were responsible for assigning workers for their shifts. Bunero was responsible for timekeeping and supervising street sweepers and trash pickup. Longo was responsible for supervising crews that did road repair and construction work.
The criminal conduct occurred between January 2006 and February 2012.
Bunero and Longo were convicted of one count of official misconduct related to political campaign work. The state presented testimony and evidence that they worked on election campaigns personally while being paid by the township and also helped assign subordinate employees to work on campaigns.
They were convicted in connection with three days when DPW employees engaged in campaign work: (1) Nov. 4, 2008, in connection with a mayoral campaign in Bayonne; (2) May 12, 2009, in connection with a mayoral campaign in Jersey City; and (3) Nov. 2, 2010, in Jersey City, in connection with a campaign for sheriff.
In pleading guilty, Wiley admitted signing and submitting fraudulent paperwork to have DPW workers paid for overtime labor that they provided on those days.
The workers engaged in activities such as canvassing neighborhoods, distributing campaign literature and posting signs.