Brick Township Recreation Director Charged With Theft For Pocketing Cash & Issuing Fraudulent Permits

Saturday, July 20, 2024, 8:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ.- On Thursday, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer reported on Wednesday, Daniel Santaniello, 46, of Brick Township, was taken into custody and charged with Theft; and Uttering a Forged Document in connection with his position as Township Director of Recreation.

     The charges result from a joint investigation by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Brick Township Police Department.

     The investigation uncovered that in his position as Director of Recreation, Santaniello was responsible for issuing permits to organizations that used the Township recreation facilities, including various softball fields throughout the township.

     Private organizations that wanted to use the fields for events were charged a fee. During the investigation, Detectives learned that Santaniello would request cash from some organizations rather than issuing checks to the township for their use of township fields. Santaniello then kept the cash for himself rather than depositing the funds into the township’s bank accounts.

     Detectives further uncovered that Santaniello, to cover his thefts, provided fraudulent permits to the organizations that paid cash.

     Accordingly, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the conclusion of the investigation, Santaniello was taken into custody at his Brick Township residence. He was transported to the Brick Township Police Department, where he was processed on the charges and released on a summons pending his first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.

     “This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with additional information concerning Santaniello’s conduct is urged to contact Detective Joseph Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Squad at (732) 929-2027, Ext. 3532, or Lieutenant Paul Catalina of the Brick Township Police Department at (732) 262-1100,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”