Ritacco Sentencing Judge Welcomes Public Comment

Residents have the option of sending written comments to the sentencing judge prior to the sentencing of Toms River Regional's disgraced former superintendent on fraud charges.

The sentencing of former Toms River Regional is July 12, before U.S. District Court Judge Joel A. Pisano in Trenton.

Ritacco plead guity April 5 to two of the 27 charges he was facing, and admitted his role in years of corruption at the school district, where as much as $2.5 million in bribes were allegedly passed between Ritacco, insurance brokers and intermediaries.

He pleaded guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy to impede the IRS. Ritacco could face 11 to 14 years jail time, according to sentencing guidelines.

As part of the plea Ritacco will forfeit $1 million dollars, his 2010 Mercedes e550, and $8,960 from his home found as part of an FBI raid.

The school district's former insurance broker, Francis X. Gartland, is scheduled for sentencing July 9 before Pisano. On April 2, Gartland plead guilty to four charges: mail fraud, conspiracy to defraud the IRS and perjury.

Gartland admitted to his role with co-conspirators who paid $1 million to $2 million in bribes to Ritacco in exchange for inflated insurance contracts from 2002 to 2010, according to U.S. District Attorney Paul Fishman.

School board member Jack Reuther said he was asked by a resident if people would have an opportunity to submit written comment prior to the sentencings.

"Our legal system allows that," said Reuther.

Letters are accepted, not email or phone correspondence. Letters can be mailed to:

U.S. District Court Judge Joel A. Pisano

United States Courthouse

402 East State Street

Trenton, NJ 08608