Middlesex County Utilities Authority Employee Admits Theft

A Freehold woman has admitted stealing $57,000 from the Middlesex County Utilities Authority in Sayreville while she worked there as comptroller/treasurer, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey announced this week.

Margaret Brennan, 68, pleaded guilty on December 8 during a hearing in New Brunswick before Superior Court Judge Bradley Ferencz to one count of theft.

Under a plea agreement reached with Middlesex County First Assistant Prosecutor Christopher L. C. Kuberiet, the defendant will be sentenced to serve a probationary term, and at the discretion of the judge, may be incarcerated at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick for up to 364 days.

In addition, the defendant will be required to repay the stolen funds and will never again be allowed to hold a public job in New Jersey. Brennan resigned from her utilities authority job on July 1, 2014.

Brennan, who had worked for the utilities authority in Sayreville for 28 years, was charged in September of this year after officials at a bank contacted the utilities authority, prompting an investigation.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Linda Infusino of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, who determined that the defendant took the funds in various amounts between November 20, 2012 and June 16, 2014.

The investigation further showed Brennan took the money by withdrawing sums from a utilities authority account and by writing checks to herself.

Brennan is scheduled to be sentenced on February 2, 2015.