Jersey town reveals staggering $26M theft days after election, sparking backlash over disclosure

Transfer tied to housing funds

Mayor Lisa Knierim said the township was the victim of a sophisticated financial theft involving approximately $26 million. The fraudulent wire transfer took place Sept. 28, and the money was intended for property purchases to meet affordable housing obligations.

A task force of local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies is working to recover the funds. The effort is led by the township police department and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. Officials said the investigation remains active and that they cannot release further details.

Residents challenge disclosure timing

Knierim announced the theft Nov. 6, three days after the local election and more than five weeks after the transfer. Residents questioned on the township’s Facebook page why officials had not disclosed it earlier.

One commenter asked why the information had been kept from the public until after Election Day. Another questioned why news of a Sept. 28 transfer was only being shared weeks later.

Election and oversight plans

In the local election, Democrat Thomas Szczur Jr. defeated Republican Carol Haring, receiving 63.69% of the vote to Haring’s 36.32%, according to results from the New Jersey secretary of state’s office. Szczur’s win kept Democrats in control of all five Township Committee seats.