RITACCO CASE: Ex-Superintendent Only Latest to Plead Guilty

Michael J. Ritacco's to mail fraud and conspiracy to impede the IRS is only the latest admission in a years-long probe into corruption and bribery allegations involving the Toms River Schools District.

The former district superintendent pleaded guilty to two of 27 charges in a federal indictment only in his trial. He faces 11 to 14 years in prison for his role in a scheme that involved bribes, kickbacks, diverted funds and more. 

Ritacco's plea also comes only days after Francis Gartland, the district's former insurance broker, admitted in federal court that he funneled millions in bribes to Ritacco from 2002 to 2010.

Gartland, 70, .

He admitted to conspiring with Frank D'Alonzo, a former supervisor of athletics at the district, and Frank Cotroneo, an insurance broker, among others, to funnel bribes to Ritacco in exchange for inflated insurance contracts.

Earlier this month, Carl Amenhauser when questioned about thousands in payments he made to reportedly keep his workers' compensation insurance contract with Toms River Regional.

Amenhauser said he paid $9,000 a month from October 2002 to June 2007 to retain the contract, which specified $20,000 monthly. Authorities said Gartland and D'Alonzo would receive $6,000 and $3,000, respectively, each month, with Amenhauser retaining $5,000 for himself. The $6,000 balance would be used to administer the workers' compensation contract.

D'Alonzo and Cotroneo admitted their guilt in fall 2010 when they pleaded guilty to one count each of bribery and three counts each of tax evasion, according to NJ.com.