El fiscal del condado de Ocean, Bradley D.. Billhimer anunció que en septiembre 22, 2023, pablo kennedy, 66, de la puerta del océano, pled guilty to the crime of Pattern of Official Misconduct before the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, JSC. Kennedy is the former Mayor of the Borough of Ocean Gate. En el momento de su sentencia en diciembre 8, 2023, el Estado solicitará una pena de tres años en la Prisión Estatal de Nueva Jersey – subject to a two year period of parole ineligibility. Además, the plea agreement calls for Kennedy to be permanently disqualified from holding any future public office or employment.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards/Corruption Unit and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad. La investigación reveló que Kennedy, en su calidad de alcalde del municipio de Ocean Gate, no entregó el producto de la venta de activos del municipio – vendido a través del sitio web de subastas del gobierno GovDeals.com y, en cambio, tomó posesión de esas ganancias para su beneficio personal.. Investigation further revealed that Kennedy failed to deposit borough parking meter funds in the borough’s bank account, y que vendió muebles de oficina del municipio a través de una cuenta privada de Facebook Marketplace., intentar conservar las ganancias para su beneficio personal.
En marzo 18, 2022, Kennedy was charged with Official Misconduct and Theft, and surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. He was released on a summons pending future appearances in Ocean County Superior Court.
Continuing investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards/Corruption Unit and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad determined that Kennedy collected cash from the sale of scrap metal originating in the Borough Recycling Center, and then failed to turn the proceeds over to the Borough. Asimismo, as Mayor, Kennedy convirtió fondos donados por contribuyentes a “Friends of Ocean Gate” para su campaña de reelección, así como la campaña de sus compañeros de fórmula, para su beneficio personal. Como consecuencia, Kennedy was charged with additional counts of Official Misconduct. En mayo 4, 2022, Kennedy surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office. He was released on a summons pending future appearances in Ocean County Superior Court.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michael Abatemarco who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards/Corruption Unit, Equipo de Delitos Económicos de la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Ocean, Departamento de Policía de Ocean Gate, y la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de Ocean, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation leading to Kennedy’s guilty plea.