Bergen County Lieutenant Stole Cocaine, Fentanyl Seized In Drug Cases: State Of NJ

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A lieutenant from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office has been indicted for allegedly stealing drug evidence to distribute, including cocaine and fentanyl, said the state Attorney General's Office Wednesday.

Kevin T. Matthew, 48, of Cedar Grove was indicted by a state grand jury this week on charges of official misconduct, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, tax fraud, and similar charges, said the office of Attorney General Matthew Platkin.

As previously reported, Mathew was charged with the crimes back in 2023.

Platkin's office said that Mathew had deposited approximately $600,000 in his bank accounts as proceeds from the illegal activity.

The state said that between 2019 and 2023, Matthew "allegedly signed out narcotics from BCPO’s main evidence vault that had been seized during the course of numerous BCPO narcotics investigations."

He removed and tampered with evidence in at least nine drug cases, officials said.

“The alleged misconduct by the defendant represents a stunning, tremendous disservice to the public,” said Platkin. “This case highlights the corrosive effects that corruption can have on public safety and trust. Instead of making Bergen County safer, the [defendant] withdrew from the evidence vault large amounts of dangerous drugs."

Matthew was a member of the BCPO’s Special Victims Unit, not the BCPO’s dedicated narcotics unit, officials noted.

The indictment charges a total of 50 counts, officials noted.

The first-degree charges carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in New Jersey state prison and a fine of up to $200,000, officials said.

Lt. Matthew was put on leave as of Nov. 3, 2023, officials said.