FREEHOLD – A former Long Branch police officer and past president of Long Branch Police Officers’ Union, PBA Local 10, was sentenced late last week for stealing over $80,000 from union coffers, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Alfred Cistaro, 43, of West Long Branch, was sentenced to a probationary term of one year on Friday, October 19 before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Richard W. English. This comes after Cistaro pleaded guilty to one count of third degree Theft by Deception on June 14, 2018. In pleading guilty, Cistaro admitted the theft took place over a period of approximately a year-and-a-half, from December 2013 to May 2015.
A complaint was filed with the Long Branch PBA Local #10 where it stated that from December 7, 2013 through May 14, 2015, twenty-seven checks were drawn on two accounts held by the same PBA, totaling $84,628 that were either received by Cistaro directly or made payable to service providers of Cistaro for services he had received. Based on the investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Cistaro should have only received approximately $4,500 as approved at a PBA meeting. The remaining funds were taken without approval or authorization from the entire membership.
The plea was conditioned upon Cistaro paying back the entire amount of $80,138.00 that he stole from the union. Cistaro did, in fact, pay that entire restitution amount in court at his sentencing hearing on October 19, 2018.
The plea agreement was made in consultation with the Long Branch Police Officers’ Union, PBA Local 10, who was the collective victim in this case.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor John Loughrey.
Cistaro is represented by Charles Moriarity, Esq., of Long Branch.
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