BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ — A New Jersey municipal recreation director took money from local sports groups and promised them field permits, then pocketed the cash after issuing fake permits. That’s the news today in Ocean County in Brick Township, the only Democrat-controlled municipality in the county,
Daniel Santaniello, 46, the Director of Recreation for Brick Township, has been charged with theft and uttering a forged instrument, as announced by Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Brick Township Police Chief David Forrester.
The charges, filed on July 17, stem from a joint investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, the Brick Township Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit, and the Detective Bureau.
The investigation uncovered that Santaniello misappropriated funds by demanding cash payments for the use of township recreational facilities, specifically softball fields, and then issuing fraudulent permits to cover his tracks.
Authorities allege that Santaniello kept the cash for personal use instead of depositing it into township accounts. His actions were discovered during routine audits and subsequent investigative efforts led by economic crime specialists.
Santaniello was arrested at his home on Tuesday without incident and was issued a summons pending his first court appearance in Ocean County Superior Court. The investigation into his activities remains active and ongoing.
Prosecutor Billhimer encourages anyone with further information on Santaniello’s activities to reach out to Detective Joseph Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office or Lieutenant Paul Catalina of the Brick Township Police Department.
