MIDDLESEX COUNTY — Former Middlesex County sheriff Joseph Spicuzzo and two men who worked under him were indicted today on charges they conspired to sell jobs and promotions for cash, the Attorney General's Office said. The 11-count indictment charges Spicuzzo, 66, of Helmetta, Darrin DiBiasi, 43, of Monmouth Junction and Paul Lucarelli, 46, of South River, with various counts...
Former Middlesex County Sheriff Joseph Spicuzzo (left) and two men who worked under him, Darrin DiBiasi (center) and Paul Lucarelli (right), have been indicted on charges of conspiring to sell jobs and promotions for cash. MIDDLESEX COUNTY — Former Middlesex County sheriff Joseph Spicuzzo and two men who worked under him were indicted today on charges they conspired to sell jobs and promotions for cash, the Attorney General's Office said.
The 11-count indictment charges Spicuzzo, 66, of Helmetta, Darrin DiBiasi, 43, of Monmouth Junction and Paul Lucarelli, 46, of South River, with various counts of conspiracy, official misconduct and bribery, the office said in a news release.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, the office said. Defense attorneys for the men could not immediately be reached for comment.
"Most members of law enforcement consider their badge and honor sacred, but we allege that Spicuzzo put badges and honor up for sale in the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office.” Stephen Taylor, director of the Division of Criminal Justice, said in a statement.
Between 1996 and 2008, Spicuzzo allegedly used his post as elected sheriff to solicit $112,000 in bribes from eight different people in return for him appointing them as new sheriff's investigators or promoting them within the office.
The indictment alleges DiBiasi and Lucarelli conspired with Spicuzzo in the jobs-for-cash scheme. DiBiasi allegedly collected three bribes from people seeking investigator positions and delivered them to Spicuzzo between 2002 and 2005, including two bribes of approximately $12,500 and one bribe of approximately $10,000, the office said in the release.
It is alleged that Lucarelli collected a bribe of approximately $25,000 from an individual seeking an investigator position and delivered it to Spicuzzo in 2008, the office said.
Spicuzzo, 66, turned himself in to the State Police on March 7. Lucarelli was arrested on March 14 and DiBiasi was arrested on July 7. All three were released without posting bail.
Spicuzzo was a mainstay of Middlesex County politics. He served as sheriff for 30 years until announcing he would not seek re-election last year, and was chairman of the county Democratic Party for 16 years before resigning after his arrest.
Lucarelli was suspended without pay from his position as a sheriff’s officer following his arrest. DiBiasi retired from his job as a sheriff’s investigator in June, prior to his arrest, the Attorney General's Office said.