Former Brookdale President Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison
Peter Burnham must pay over $44,000 in restitution.
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Former Brookdale Community College (BCC) President Peter F. Burnham received a five-year prison sentence after bilking the college, Monmouth University and the federal government of over $44,000 worth of items and services, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Grammiccioni announced.
Burnham, 68, of Colts Neck, was ordered to pay $44,497 in restitution by Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Scully, who handed down the sentence at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold on Friday.
Burnham pleaded guilty on June 24 to two counts of official misconduct and one count of theft by deception. As part of his plea agreement, Burnham will be ineligible for parole for two years.
Burnham resigned from BCC in March 2011 after county officials and Freeholder John Curley raised questions about his spending practices.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) subsequently conducted an investigation into Burnham. Prosecutors found that from June 2003 until February 2011, Burnham used two credit cards issued by BCC to pay for expenses that were not related to college business, the MCPO said in a press release. These fraudulent expenses included lodging, airfare and meals in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Verginia, Arizona and Delaware. The expenses exceeded $24,000.
Burnham also bilked Monmouth University and the federal government out of $20,000 in student aid by exploiting a term in his contract that allowed for tuition reimbursement for family members who attended a state college or university, prosecutors said.
Burnham, whose son attended Monmouth University, had already been reimbursed for his son’s 2010/2011 school year tuition as per the terms of Burnham’s employment contract. However, after submitting his resignation to BCC in March 2011, Burnham and his son filed an application for federal student aid for the same 2010/2011 school year without disclosing the $20,000 tuition reimbursement benefit. The federal government paid the 2010/2011 tuition to Monmouth University directly after Burnham and his son qualified for the student aid. After noting the overpayment for tuition, Monmouth University issued a $20,398 reimbursement check to Burnham’s son, which was deposited into Burnham’s personal bank account, according to a press release issued by the MCPO.
The case was assigned to Grammiccioni and Assistant Prosecutor John Loughrey. Burnham was represented by Steven Secare.
Barb
2:38 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
I just don't get it. I want to be the former president of Brookdale so my kids can get FREE tuition to college. Why the heck would his son get free tuition to Monmouth University? No wonder this country is in financial turmoil...
Our representatives need to put an end to misuse of our $$$$$$$$$
Michael Ferrell
3:28 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
While I don't totally disagree with you Barb, if it is in his contract and there was no clause saying not to pay if convicted, its a shame. Too often we see outlandish things given to officials by the governing boards. I'm not sure we point the finger at the right people though. Was he wrong for asking for that in his contract, or is it more correct that the Trustees should have never granted the request? What is shame though is the pattern of deceit shown in the tuition and financial aid at Monmouth.
George Clark
3:34 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
lol. barb that's sadly funny. Why would a representive that benefits directly from the misuse of our moneys have any incentive to end it? It's the biggest reason they go after the job. ?
Barb
3:54 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
Then the contracts have to ratified. Why should tuition reimbursement for children be included at all, especially at another institution of higher education.
Big Whitey
5:31 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
They are all in bed together. Just like teachers in one district become board members in another. Until we privatize our schools we will continue to be fleeced.
Sal
2:49 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Burnham, 68, of Colts Neck, was ordered to pay $44,497 in restitution by Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Scully, Burnham pleaded guilty and will be ineligible for parole for two years. _______________________________________________________________
AS taxpayers we LOST THREE Times.. 1) we lost because he misused his credit card and stole $44,000 from for us taxpayers. 2) We lost a second time in our paying for all the tens of thousands of dollars spent on costs of the investigation and prosecution and then as taxpayers we lose a 3rd time because of the Judge 3) as We are paying the costs to keep him in prison for the next two years or so. If our court judges were smarter___instead of jail time_____ sentence and the penalty should be "Taking Everything" the man owns, including his house and vehicles to sell to cover all of the costs and leave him penniless on the streets__and no jail time that us taxpayers pick up the tab on..
INSIDE looking OUT
8:00 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
DAMN REPUBLICANS..
jerseytomato
7:46 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Mr. Burnham is a registered Democrat.
INSIDE looking OUT
8:01 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
YOU SURE HIS LAST NAME ISN'T COLATRELLA??
Barney
8:17 am on Saturday, December 1, 2012
The Democratic Unions and Gov't people are no different. They just steal in another way.
cbvcn
3:20 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
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