N.J. Men Admit to Running 9/11 Charity Scam
January 7, 2014 | Read Time: 1 minute
Two New Jersey men pleaded guilty to theft charges Monday in connection with a bogus charity that claimed to be raising money for relatives of people killed in the September, 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks, the Asbury Park Press writes.
Appearing in state Superior Court, Mark Niemczyk, 67, of Tinton Falls admitted to third-degree theft by deception and Thomas Scalgione, 41, of Stafford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit third-degree theft by deception. Sentencing was set for March 7.
Prosecutors said the suspects appeared at 9/11-related events in a pickup truck painted with the image of the Twin Towers and the names of late police and firefighters, selling T-shirts and collecting donations. The money, ostensibly intended for the victims’ families, went into bank accounts held by Mr. Niemczyk. The two men agreed to pay more than $120,000 to the state in a November 2012 civil settlement.
