School money manager accused of taking secret cash from contractor

A tale of fraud, fake overtime, and cash stuffed in envelopes

In a shocking betrayal of public trust, a top finance officer in a New Jersey school district now faces federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a brazen cash-for-contracts scheme. From mid-2021 to late 2021, the district’s business administrator reportedly engaged in a elaborate arrangement with a contractor—exchanging cash payments in parking lots while falsifying records to line both their pockets.

The Scheme: Cash in Envelopes and Fake Overtime

The scandal unfolded when prosecutors allege the administrator, who served as the district’s financial gatekeeper, directed a contractor—hired to oversee building projects—to submit inflated invoices for hours never worked.

• Cash Payments in Parking Lots: The administrator designated specific parking spots as drop-off points, where the contractor allegedly handed over stacks of cash in exchange for approval of fraudulent billing.
• Fake Overtime Racket: The contractor submitted exaggerated time sheets, claiming absurd hours—including a two-week stretch in September 2021 where he logged 90 hours of overtime plus 80 regular hours, an impossible feat. Another week showed 60 hours of overtime alongside a full 40-hour workweek, all while supposedly inspecting hurricane damage.
• Lavish Payouts: The administrator authorized payments at an inflated rate—$100 for regular hours and $150 for falsified overtime. The district, unaware of the deception, paid these fraudulent bills without question.

A Second Act: Lump Sums and Double-Dipping

The scheme escalated in October 2021 when a second company hired the same contractor to install heating systems. This time, payments shifted to large lump sums—but the fraud didn’t stop.

• Overlapping Billings: The contractor somehow billed both companies for the same days, racking up more than 24 hours in a single 24-hour period.
• Payouts Skyrocketed: Between mid-October and late November, he received over $107,000 in lump-sum payments alone.

The Fallout: Resignations and a Pattern of Abuse

By December 2021, investigators had zeroed in on the district’s finances, prompting the administrator’s resignation. Two days later, the superintendent took an unexplained leave—and was gone by spring.

Total Take: Prosecutors allege the contractor pocketed $160,000, funneling at least $70,000 back to the administrator in cash.

A Repeat Offense?

This isn’t the first scandal in the Hillsborough district. In early 2023, another leader pleaded guilty to kickbacks in exchange for approving fake overtime, returning $137,000 as part of a settlement.

The Message? When oversight fails, even trusted officials can become predators—and public funds become their playground.