Old Bridge BOE Member, Wife Stole $53K From Football, PTA: Police

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — A married couple from Old Bridge — one of whom currently sits on the school board —was arrested Monday, after police say they stole from a school PTA and from the Old Bridge Rebels youth Football and Cheer Association.

Dana Marchetta, 41, and her husband, Leonardo Marchetta, 42, are accused of stealing $41,067 from the Grissom Elementary PTA, and $12,417 from the Rebels football/cheer, said Old Bridge Police.

As of the writing of this article, Leonardo Marchetta still sits on the Board of Education. The Old Bridge teachers' union is calling on him to step down in light of the theft charges against him.

The wife is charged with seven counts of forgery, four counts of passing bad checks, three counts of theft by deception, two counts of theft, theft by failure to do so, public records fraud, falsifying records, money laundering and conspiracy.

Husband Leonardo is charged with seven counts of bad checks, two counts of theft, theft by deception and conspiracy.

Old Bridge Police say their arrests Monday came after "an exhaustive and thorough investigation."

Patch first reported this story in September 2023: It all started when two Old Bridge parent teacher associations (PTAs) — Grissom Elementary School PTA and Jonas Salk Middle School PTA — reported missing money.

At the time, a now-infamous email was sent to the community, reading "Jonas Salk PTA has been a victim of lost funds."

Then the Rebels youth Football & Cheer Association reported they were missing money, too.

Two PTA members were removed, but the Old Bridge school district never revealed their names.

Old Bridge Police said this week:

"Over the past few years, Mrs. Marchetta has been actively involved in the Grissom and Salk PTA Organizations and the Rebels Football and Cheer Program. During her tenure with those groups, she is accused of misusing her positions and exploiting these groups financially for her own benefit. Among her accused crimes, she is charged with embezzling funds, ($41,067.90 from Grissom PTA and its associated vendors, and $12,417.16 from the Rebels Organization), engaging in forgery by altering checks with falsified signatures, and modifying an Old Bridge Police Department Incident Report, which she then presented to the Salk PTA Board."

Police allege she deposited some of the stolen money into her husband's personal bank accounts, and that the two conspired together.

Detective Caffey was the arresting officer. If you have any additional information about this case, Old Bridge Police ask that you contact him at jcaffey@oldbridge.com

Old Bridge Football/Cheer Teams Also Missing Money; PTA Member Removed (Sept. 2023)

The Old Bridge teachers' union, the Old Bridge Education Association, released the following statement calling for Marchetta to resign immediately:

"The Old Bridge Education Association is deeply concerned and disappointed to have learned about Old Bridge Board of Education member, Leonardo Marchetta’s arrest and subsequent charges that include seven counts of bad checks, two counts of theft, theft by deception, and conspiracy.

Mr. Marchetta's alleged actions greatly affected two Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) within Old Bridge Public Schools and the Rebels Football and Cheer Program.

Our association is saddened that our students and staff were taken advantage of through the misuse of their PTA dues and fundraising efforts. The needs of our students, families, and educators should be at the forefront, yet this incident highlights how certain individuals put their greed first.

Mr. Marchetta’s charges not only cast a shadow of doubt over his integrity, ethics and trustworthiness, but they also cause us to question his decision- making as a member of the board of education. While Mr. Marchetta should be afforded his due process rights, members of the Board of Education are expected to abide by the Code of Ethics for School Board Members and it appears that Mr. Marchetta has not.

The Old Bridge Education Association calls on Leonardo Marchetta to resign effective immediately or that the Board of Education act decisively and justly and take a vote to remove him. May each of you take this as a moment to reaffirm that you are committed to transparency and accountability."