Recreation Director Stole Permit Fees From Brick Township: Prosecutor

BRICK, NJ — Daniel Santaniello, the director of Brick Township's recreation department, has been arrested on charges he stole permit fees paid for the use of Brick Township's recreation facilities, authorities said Thursday.

Santaniello, 46, was arrested at his home in Brick on Wednesday, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Brick Township Police Chief David Forrester said in a joint news release. He is charged with theft and uttering a forged instrument related to his position as recreation director, authorities said.

As the director of recreation, Santaniello was responsible for issuing permits to private organizations for use of the town's recreational facilities, including the township’s various softball fields, authorities said. Private organizations wishing to use the fields were charged fees to use them.

The investigation found Santaniello made some organizations wishing to use the township’s fields to pay him directly in cash, rather than issuing checks to the township, the prosecutor's office said, and Santaniello is accused of pocketing the cash instead of turning it over to the town.

Santaniello then provided fraudulent permits to the private organizations who paid him in cash, the prosecutor's office said.

Authorities did not provide an estimate of how much money they believe was taken or how long Santaniello is believed to have been issuing the fraudulent permits for cash.

Santaniello has worked for Brick Township since 2000 and has been director of the recreation department since 2015. His annual salary was $121,000 in 2021, the most recent figure available in public records online.

The investigation is continuing and anyone with information concerning Santaniello’s conduct is urged to contact Detective Joseph Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad at 732-929-2027, ext. 3532, or Lt. Paul Catalina of the Brick Township Police Department at 732-262-1100, the prosecutor's office said.

Santaniello was processed and served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, Brick Township Police Department and its Internal Affairs Unit and Detective Bureau are investigating.