New Jersey residents learn of $26 million theft, but they want to know why they weren’t told until after midterms: “Why is it just now being shared?”
The township has come under fire after waiting five weeks to tell residents
A township in New Jersey is facing backlash from residents after disclosing a $26 million theft that occurred weeks before the midterm election. The resident questioned why the fraudulent wire transfer was not disclosed earlier after the Cranbury Township Mayor Lisa Knierim revealed the alleged theft on Friday.
Knierim announced that the municipality had fallen victim to a “sophisticated financial theft” which involved $26 million, according to Fox News. “Today, we want to share information regarding a serious financial incident involving Cranbury Township,” a post on the township Facebook page reads.
The mayor went on to say that the money had been taken from funds that were originally supposed to be designated to purchase property and meet the town’s affordable housing obligations. A task force led by the town’s police force has since been set up to try to recover the lost money. According to the Facebook post, investigators have frozen $17.3 million in assets, leaving $8.7 million still to be frozen.
The fraudulent wire transfer happened on September 28, although residents weren’t informed of the theft until November 6, over five weeks later. The announcement also came three days after residents had voted in the midterm elections.
Residents questioned the timing of the announcement
Responding to the Facebook post, several residents gave their thoughts on the news. “I’m interested in knowing why this information was kept under wraps until after Election Day,” wrote one resident. Others shared similar sentiments. “When did this occur, and why was it released only after the elections?” asked another.
The announcement regarding the fraudulent wire transfer followed three days after local elections, which saw Democrat Thomas Szczur Jr. retain control of the township committee and beat Republican opposition, Carol Haring, with 1,197 votes compared to Haring’s 700 votes, according to the New Jersey Globe. The victory preserved all five seats as Democrat seats on the Cranbury Township Committee.
In the statement on Facebook, Knierim acknowledged residents’ concerns, assuring residents that “Those concerns are legitimate, and we take them seriously.” She also reiterated officials’ commitment to “protect the financial interests of Cranbury Township, support the ongoing investigation, maintain essential municipal services, and keep our community informed.”
Moving forward, the township will introduce ordinances to establish two new positions, with the new roles intended to ensure that such administrative errors do not occur again. Knierim did not address why the township had waited as long as it did to inform residents of the theft.
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