MAYS LANDING, N.J. — A former Ventnor City Code Enforcement Officer has been sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison for stealing more than $75,000 in public funds, Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.
Michelle Calderon, 39, of Egg Harbor Township, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by failure to make lawful disposition of entrusted property. She was sentenced by Judge Donna M. Taylor in Atlantic County Superior Court.
As part of her plea deal, Calderon paid $50,000 in partial restitution to the City of Ventnor prior to sentencing. Upon release, she will be required to pay the remaining amount. She also forfeited high-end items purchased with the stolen money, which were seized during a search of her residence, and is permanently barred from public employment.
The case began after Ventnor City officials discovered financial discrepancies in the city’s ledgers. Calderon, who worked in the city’s Department of Code Enforcement from 2021 to 2023, allegedly insisted on personally handling all cash transactions for permits and fees.
Investigators from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ventnor City Police Department found that Calderon manipulated financial records and pocketed cash meant for city services.