MAYS LANDING – A former Atlantic City Police Officer was sentenced today for official misconduct, theft and tax fraud, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.
In March of 2012, Atlantic City Police Officer Michael L. Jones, 41, was arrested after the State of New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Taxation Office of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Task Force, and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Official Corruption Unit initiated a joint investigation after learning that Officer Jones’ lease in Stanley Holmes Village was terminated by the Atlantic City Housing Authority for failure to comply with the terms of the Live-In Police Officer Program.
The Live-In Police Officer Program allows police officers to lease public housing for substantially discounted rent and required Jones to reside on the premises, provide police related services outside of his employment with the police department provide quarterly reports and provide a police officer presence to the residents of Stanley Holmes.
On February 14, 2013 an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Jones, on four criminal counts including; Official Misconduct, Theft by Deception, Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns and Failure to Pay State Tax in connection with subletting his Stanley Holmes apartment, which he received at a discounted rate as a participant in the Live-In Police Officer Program.
On May 6, 2015 after a 7-day trial before Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Kyran Connor, an Atlantic County jury found Jones guilty of all counts: Official Misconduct, a 2nd. degree crime, Theft by Deception, a 3rd. degree crime, Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns, a 3rd. degree crime and Failure to Pay State Tax, a 3rd. degree crime.
Judge Connor, at the request of the State, following Jones’ finding of guilty issued an order forfeiting the defendant’s public position and forever disqualifying Jones from holding any office or position of honor, trust or profit under this State or any of its administrative or political subdivisions.
Today, Jones was sentenced by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Kyran Connor to a 7-year prison sentence for the misconduct charge with Jones having to serve a minimum of 5 years prior to being eligible for parole and a 4-year prison sentence for Tax Fraud to run consecutively with the 7-year prison term for the misconduct charge.
Judge Connor also ordered Jones to pay $12,760.02 in restitution for outstanding taxes and fines related to Jones’ failure to pay taxes and not filing tax returns.
First Assistant Prosecutor Diane Ruberton represented the State in the case.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
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