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Courtroom stock photo

Ex-Morris County Freeholder pleads guilty in bribery scandal

by
November 25, 2025

Former Morris County Freeholder pleads guilty in public contract bribery scheme

Trenton, NJ – A former Morris County Freeholder has pleaded guilty to accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for steering public legal contracts to a law firm, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Tuesday.

John Cesaro, 53, of Parsippany, entered a guilty plea on November 17 before Superior Court Judge Peter J. Tober in Somerset County, admitting to conspiracy to commit bribery in official and political matters, a third-degree felony offense.

As part of a plea deal, prosecutors will seek a five-year prison sentence when Cesaro is sentenced on January 16, 2026. He will be required to forfeit the $7,700 he accepted in bribes, pay an additional $23,000 in public corruption profiteering penalties, and permanently surrender his right to hold public office or public employment in New Jersey. Cesaro will also be barred from conducting business with the state or any public agency for five years.

Authorities say Cesaro accepted the payments from a cooperating witness between April and May 2018 in multiple locations, including Randolph, Mountain Lakes, and Morristown. In exchange, he allegedly promised to use his influence on the Morris County Freeholder Board—now known as the Board of County Commissioners—to secure or maintain legal work for the witness’s law firm.

The prosecution was handled by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), including Assistant Attorneys General Michael Grillo and Andrew Wellbrock, under the supervision of OPIA Executive Director Eric L. Gibson.

Cesaro, a former elected official and lawyer, was first charged in a broader public corruption probe. He is represented by Robert Dunn, Esq., of Morristown.

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Key Points

  • Former Morris County Freeholder John Cesaro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery
  • Cesaro admitted accepting $7,700 in bribes to steer legal contracts to a law firm
  • He faces up to five years in prison, forfeiture of illicit gains, and permanent public office ban
Local News Report

Local News Report

Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

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