Wednesday, February 3, 2010

New Jersey Man & 3 Co-Conspirators Misappropriate $2 Million From School District In Vendor Fraud Scheme

Robert E. Titus, Jr., 52, of Jackson, New Jersey, was arrested along with three other conspirators and charged with bilking more than $2 million from the Bernards School District in Somerset County, New Jersey. According to authorities, Titus, who worked for food-service contractor Aramark Corp., was the ringleader in a scheme whereby inflated contractor invoices were sent to the school district and Titus would pocket the difference. According to media reports, Titus and others are also accused of running a money laundering scheme to hide the kickbacks to Titus, who authorities say used the money to pay gambling debts. Authorities claim the scheme lasted 5 1/2 years. Authorities report that Titus had been employed by Aramark since 1992 and became the on-site manager at Bernards in 1999. He was charged with money laundering, theft by deception and conspiracy. Titus' attorney claims he has a "severe gambling addiction." The other conspirators charged in this case are: John Paris, 60, of Belford, New Jersey; Edward G. Beach, 52, of Toms River, New Jersey; and Gabriel Caponetto, 51, of Howell, New Jersey.

Read the story here, here and here.

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