Poll: Do You Agree With Ritacco Sentencing?
Former superintendent sentenced to 135 months in federal prison
Former Toms River Schools Superintendent Michael Ritacco was sentenced to 135 months federal jail time at a sentencing today where a federal judge admonished him for 12 years of kickbacks and bribery for insurance contracts in the school district.
Judge Joel Pisano called the scheme "the worst case of public corruption he has ever seen" and ordered Ritacco to serve 135 months for one count of mail fraud and 60 months concurrently one count of tax evasion.
Ritacco admitted in his plea of guilt that approximately $2.5 million in kickbacks and bribes passed hands between him and co-conspirators Francis X. Gartland and other intermediaries who await sentencing.
A restitution hearing has yet to be scheduled. Ritacco must serve 85 percent of his sentenced before his release, and faces three years thereafter of supervision.
The full article is here. Do you agree with the sentence?
Costas
5:26 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
He should of gotton the maximum sentence.
.
8:02 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
...gotton?
BonnieLind
5:31 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
The taxpayers that he robbed should have been allowed to determine his sentence!
ThanksForComingOut
5:29 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012
That's the thing Bonnie. He kept our propert taxes down by generating money through the Ritacco Center or Toms River Fest. Criminal none the less though so you are correct. It's a funny thing, we all knew he was crooked but he and others figured, hey he's keeping our taxes low so nobody would have a problem. He seemed to figure out a plan that's a win win for all. Problem is that morally it's wrong and a terrible example for our kids. But Bonnie you are right, he's a criminal none the less and should be treated as one. Just think, our property taxes were some of the lowest in the county ( I think)....what if he wasn't skimming or taking these bribes... could've maybe been lower
butch cassidy
11:13 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
he did not keep taxes down..i lived there and saw it first hand...taxes went up every year...if you didnt work river fest you didnt keep your job or get relatives theirs...
ThanksForComingOut
11:33 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
I live here as well, I've lived here since 1987. I'm well aware of property taxes in Brick, Jackson etc. they are much higher than TR. I'm not saying what he did was right but our taxes are lower than surrounding towns, and we are the fourth largest school district in NJ. He deserves what's coming, no doubt, but when having conversations about property taxes with homeowners from other towns I usually walk away feeling better than they do. Are you trying to tell me that everyone who didn't work TR Fest was fired? Go on, tell me more about that. I AM aware of the roll call or attendance that was taken at the polling booths for teachers when voting on increasing the budget. I'd be more concerned for my job if I didn't vote for the budget increase than if I didn't work TR Fest
Douglas
5:38 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012
No! He should have gotten at least 20 years! What about all the other counts he was charged with (he only pleaded guilty to 2)?? I would like to see the tax payers of Toms River receive restitution during the next hearing! An example needs to be made!
KC
2:37 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
One year for every dollar misappropriated and one year for every relative and friend hired. He should have company though. He is not the only one with stench on his hands.
momere
6:04 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
No matter how much time he gets it won't make it better. The fact is he allowed his ego and greed to be his downfall. Sad day for his family, friends who supported him, teachers who worked for him, parents and more important the students he was suppose to set an example for iin the District. Hopefully, the lesson learned is ego and greed will trip you up every time. However, I doubt it will because most folks think they're than the guy who got caught. Very sad!
momere
6:09 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
That should be "most folks think they're smarter than the guy who got caught".
"
bojangles
5:57 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012
Ritacco for president! lol im totally kidding
skizma
7:27 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
good idea bojangles....he really did keep taxes down and did a lot for the district.....just got a little to comfy.....
tee
1:20 pm on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Listen, eventually you get caught.. He skimmed money from our Town. I'm gald he got caught. And for all the other crooked people in our community we will catch them too.