Ex-Brick Recreation Director Sentenced In Permit Fee Thefts

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The former director of the Brick Township Recreation Department has been sentenced to probation in the theft of permit fees paid by private organizations to rent fields in the township, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.

Daniel Santaniello, 46, was sentenced to three years of probation Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. He already paid full restitution of $9,260 and was required to resign from his position.

Santaniello, who pleaded guilty before Ryan on Dec. 10, also forfeited any future public employment, Billhimer said.

Prosecutors had sought a sentence that included 180 days in jail, but Ryan did not include that.

As recreation director, Santaniello was responsible for issuing permits to private organizations for using the township’s recreational facilities, including its various softball fields. Private organizations wishing to use the fields were charged fees for their usage.

Investigators found Santaniello required certain organizations wishing to use the township’s fields to pay him directly in cash instead of writing checks to the township, and gave them fraudulent permits. Instead of depositing the cash into the township’s accounts, Santaniello kept the cash for himself.

Santaniello was arrested at his home on July 17 by detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and Brick Township Police Department.