Four Former Supervisors at Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Indicted on Charges they Directed Agency Craftsmen to Work on Private Homes While on Duty

TRENTON, NJ – June 30, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that the Division of Criminal Justice has obtained indictments charging three former administrators and a former shop foreman at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission with directing subordinate employees to complete repairs or improvements at the private homes of the administrators or people close to them while the subordinates were on duty for the PVSC.

According to Director Taylor, the three former high-level administrators for the PVSC were charged in three separate state grand jury indictments which were voted yesterday and handed up in court today. Those men, who were initially arrested on Feb. 1 by detectives of the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau, are:

Anthony Ardis, 57, of Paterson, a former PVSC Commissioner who later served as Clerk to the Board of Commissioners, Director of Management Services and Chief Ethics Liaison Officer for the PVSC;
Kevin Keogh, 45, of Roseland, former Superintendent for Special Services at the PVSC; and
Chester Mazza, 70, of Totowa, former Assistant Superintendent for Special Services.

The indictments charging Ardis and Keogh also name Paul Bazela, 44, of Northvale, the former foreman of the PVSC carpenter’s shop. It is alleged that, at the direction of Ardis and Keogh, Bazela ordered carpenters and other skilled workers he supervised to go to the homes of Keogh and Ardis’ mother and girlfriend while on agency time to complete repairs and improvements using agency vehicles, tools and equipment. Bazela also allegedly accompanied the workers in some instances to supervise and assist with the projects. Bazela, who is the mayor of Northvale, was shop foreman from April 2006 to May 2010, when he was promoted to a higher level of operations supervisor. None of the three administrators paid for the work performed for them.

“We allege that Ardis, Keogh and Mazza used their power and influence as senior administrators at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission to exploit subordinates as free labor for their personal projects, and that Bazela assisted in this conduct by using his direct authority over these skilled workers,” said Attorney General Dow. “We are determined to root out this type of abuse of public office.”

“By allegedly taking PVSC employees away during their regular shifts to serve as their personal handymen, these defendants stole from the public,” said Director Taylor. “They are also charged with theft for treating agency vehicles, tools and equipment like their own property.”

Ardis, Keogh and Mazza are each charged with conspiracy (2nd degree), official misconduct (2nd degree), pattern of official misconduct (2nd degree) and theft by unlawful taking or disposition (3rd degree). Bazela faces two counts of each of those charges, because he is named in those counts in both the Ardis and Keogh indictments. Keogh is charged by himself with additional counts of official misconduct (2nd degree), pattern of official misconduct (2nd degree) and theft by unlawful taking (3rd degree) for alleged instances in which he personally directed subordinate employees to perform personal errands or repairs for him without arranging it through Bazela.

The PVSC is a state agency responsible for managing and regulating collection and disposal of wastewater generated in a four-county area along the Passaic Valley River Basin, encompassing parts of Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau. The investigation is being conducted and coordinated by Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey J. Manis, Sgt. Lisa Shea and Detective Michael Behar. DAG Manis presented the indictments to the state grand jury.

With respect to Ardis, it is alleged specifically that on two occasions, between 2008 and 2009, two PVSC employees were directed to go to the home of Ardis’ mother in Paterson, while on agency time, to tear down sheet rock in the garage. On another occasion, between 2007 and 2008, three PVSC employees were allegedly directed to install wood panels and hook up a microwave in the kitchen of the mother while on duty for the PVSC. It is further alleged that in 2009, a PVSC employee was directed to go to the home of Ardis’ girlfriend on two occasions during his regular agency work shifts to replace air conditioning units in her bedroom and den.

With respect to Keogh, it is alleged that between March 2006 and May 2010, he had PVSC employees perform numerous tasks for him during their regular shifts for the agency. On one occasion, two employees were allegedly directed to remove old windows and install replacement windows in two bedrooms at Keogh’s private residence in Roseland. On another occasion, two PVSC employees allegedly installed latticework underneath a deck at Keogh’s home. On a third occasion, two other agency employees were allegedly directed to install two cabinet doors in Keogh’s kitchen. One of the employees allegedly had been directed to cut and finish the doors in the workshop at the sewage treatment plant.

In connection with the counts naming Keogh alone, it is alleged that Keogh had a mechanic from the PVSC’s vehicle maintenance department remove an old pool pump motor from his swimming pool, and subsequently had that mechanic and a second mechanic assemble a new pool pump motor and install it at his house. In the winter of 2009, Keogh allegedly had two employees from the vehicle maintenance department come to his home during a snowstorm, while on agency time, to repair the chute on his snowblower. It is further alleged that Keogh directed PVSC employees to carry out numerous other personal errands for him while on agency time, including putting up holiday decorations at his home and picking up landscaping items and other personal supplies from Home Depot and Lowe’s and delivering them to his home, including plants, fertilizer, a propane tank, decorative stone and pool supplies.

With respect to Mazza, it is alleged that on one occasion, two employees for the PVSC were directed to install a vent or fan in the roof of Mazza’s home in Totowa while on agency time. On another occasion, three agency employees, including two masons, were allegedly directed to repair a masonry wall in front of Mazza’s home while on their regular shifts for the PVSC.

Ardis, Keogh and Mazza were immediately terminated following their arrests in February. Each man is free on $75,000 bail. Bazela’s employment at the PVSC was terminated earlier this year. If convicted, Bazela would be required to forfeit his job as mayor of Northvale.

The second-degree offenses carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. For each defendant, conduct is alleged that occurred after April 14, 2007, when enhanced penalties for official misconduct took effect. As a result, each defendant would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison without possibility of parole if convicted based on that alleged conduct. The second-degree offenses also carry a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

The indictments are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The indictments were handed up to Superior Court Judge Pedro J. Jimenez Jr. in Mercer County, who assigned them to Passaic County.

Attorney General Dow and Director Taylor noted that the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau has established a toll-free Corruption Tipline for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. The statewide Corruption Tipline is 1-866-TIPS-4CJ. Additionally, the public can log on to the Division of Criminal Justice Web page at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing. All information received through the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Tipline or Web page will remain confidential.

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