A Bergen County police lieutenant is charged with stealing cocaine and fentanyl that was drug proof used or set for use in upcoming trials.
Lt. Kevin Matthew, 48, faces 50 prison counts associated to the alleged scheme. Prosecutors mentioned he stole proof from no less than 9 prison instances and tried to promote the medication for private revenue. Investigators mentioned Matthew has greater than $600,000 in unexplained money deposits in his financial institution accounts.
New Jersey State Legal professional Basic Matthew Platkin mentioned Matthew’s theft of medicine from the Bergen County proof locker was “…a stunning, tremendous disservice to the public.”
“Instead of making Bergen County safer, the indictment alleges the defendant repeatedly withdrew from the evidence vault large amounts of dangerous drugs that had already been seized by law enforcement,” Platkin mentioned.
Matthew is a member of the BCPO Particular Victims Unit, not a narcotics unit. The medication he allegedly took weren’t linked to any prison investigation he was concerned in, however he was in a position to signal out the proof by scouring a piece database that had information of medicine examined by the NJ State Police in reference to quite a few prison trials. Matthew allegedly stole medication from 2019 by means of 2023. Officers alleged Matthew would later return the proof with completely different materials and weights than the cocaine, heroin and fentanyl he had signed out.
Matthew can be charged with tax fraud, as prosecutors allege he didn’t report the $600,000 in further money he had deposited into his accounts.
He additionally faces drug possession and distribution, official misconduct, tampering with public information and different prison counts.
Matthew’s protection legal professional Charles Sciarra in a press release mentioned his shopper “maintains his innocence.” Sciarra additionally accused the legal professional basic’s workplace of getting “…dragged my client’s name through the media mud” for greater than a yr.
“Sixteen months later, they release a lengthy indictment that gets us no closer to the alleged conspiracy, whose alleged participants remain a mystery,” Sciarra mentioned.
Sciarra added the legal professional basic workplace has “a documented disastrous track record of recent failed investigations” and “a known bias against law enforcement.”
If convicted, prosecutors mentioned Matthew may face 10 to twenty years in jail.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella referred inquiries to the state legal professional basic’s workplace and mentioned the allegations weren’t reflective of his workplace.
“The aberrant behavior of a single employee must not overshadow the consistent, diligent work of the men and women of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office,” Musella mentioned. “While this betrayal of the public trust cannot be overstated, it is not and can never be a reflection of the rest of our dedicated employees who work hard each day to protect the citizens of Bergen County.”
Prosecutor Musella additional concluded, “By continuing to assist the Attorney General’s Office, and by working hand in hand with our local partners in law enforcement, we have persevered through this incident. Without question, we remain resolute in our duties.”
Prosecutor Musella thanks Legal professional Basic Matthew J. Platkin and the Workplace of Public Integrity & Accountability for his or her help with this matter, and he pledges continued cooperation in assist of it.
“The aberrant conduct of a single worker should not overshadow the constant, diligent work of the women and men of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Workplace,” Musella mentioned in a press release. “While this betrayal of the public trust cannot be overstated, it is not and can never be a reflection of the rest of our dedicated employees who work hard each day to protect the citizens of Bergen County.”
“Once these allegations came to light, we promptly reported the matter to the Office of the Attorney General, and I committed this entire Office to fully cooperate with a thorough, impartial investigation,” he continued. “I know all members of this Office are marching forward, beyond any shadow cast by this breach of trust, and they do so faithfully — as they should.”
