Two more New Brunswick employees charged in theft of parking fees

From Friday's Star-Ledger:

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NEW BRUNSWICK — Two more people have been charged in connection with the theft of thousands of dollars from the New Brunswick Parking Authority, bringing to six the number of agency employees now facing charges.

Lawrence Sorbino, 44, of South Brunswick, a security and property manager for the city-run parking agency, was charged with accepting more than $5,000 in bribes to ignore thefts by agency officers, and Anthony Williams, 32, of Woodbridge, was charged with theft, conspiracy and destroying records, Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said.

Four parking authority security officers were arrested in June, charged with taking money motorists paid at the Ferren and Lower Church Street parking decks, Kaplan said in a joint statement with New Brunswick Police Director Peter Mangarella.

Sorbino, of the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick, is charged with two counts of official misconduct and single counts of bribery, receiving gifts as a public servant, theft by failing to make required disposition of property, and conspiracy to commit theft, the prosecutor said.

Authorities allege Sorbino was paid more than $5,000 between Aug. 15, 2009 and May 15 this year to ignore thefts committed by four parking authority security officers.

Sorbino surrendered to police July 23, and was released on $100,000 bail, Kaplan said. Sorbino’s lawyer, Robert Gluck, did not return calls for comment today.

Williams, who was arrested earlier this month while at work, is accused of telling security officers how and when to disable security equipment before stealing parking payments. Also, he allegedly stole more than $500 in payments that were put in a drop safe on May 16, the prosecutor said.

Williams is being held today in the Middlesex County jail on $100,000 bail.

In June, Kaplan announced the arrests of four parking authority security officers accused of swiping nearly $3,000 from automated payment machines and customers during their 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. shifts at the Ferren and Lower Church street parking decks. The alleged thefts occurred between May 13 and May 15.James O’Neill, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, said the investigation is continuing and he could not give details. He declined to comment when asked if any thefts occurred before May 13.

The parking authority came under investigation after information developed by the State Commission of Investigation was handed over to local authorities by the commission’s executive director, Alan Rockoff.