Former NJ City Official Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison For Stealing $75,000 In Public Funds
A former New Jersey municipal employee has been sentenced to five years in state prison after admitting to stealing over $75,000 in public funds and orchestrating a complex cover-up.
Michelle Calderon, 39, who served as a code enforcement officer for Ventnor City in Atlantic County, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by failure to make lawful disposition of entrusted property. Her sentencing took place on May 27, 2025, in Atlantic County Superior Court.
Scheme Spanned Two Years
According to investigators, Calderon's criminal activity spanned from 2021 to 2023. During her time as a public official, she diverted cash payments made by citizens and businesses for city permits into her own possession. The stolen funds, totaling more than $75,000, were meant for municipal use.
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