EDISON — A grand jury in Middlesex County has indicted a retired Edison police captain on charges of illegally using sick leave to collect about $38,000 from the township while working at another job.
Natale A. Fresco, 60, of Edison was charged with two counts of second-degree official misconduct, one count of third-degree theft and one count of third-degree theft by deception, according to a statement prepared by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey.
The indictment was handed up in New Brunswick following a presentation to the grand jury by Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Christine D’Elia on Dec. 18.
The charges were filed after an investigation determined that Fresco was employed as security director at the Menlo Park Mall between July 15 and Sept. 30 and collected sick pay from the township during that time.
The investigation by Detective Nicholas Chiorello of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Fresco, known as “Andy,” collected about $38,000 before retiring on Oct. 1, Carey said.
Fresco, who worked as a police officer for 36 years, earned $189,000 annually from the township and was being paid $65,000 per year as the mall security director, according to Carey.
Anyone with information is asked to call Chiorello at 732-745-3300.