Principal Of Piscataway Vo-Tech School Indicted

PISCATAWAY, NJ — The suspended principal of the Piscataway vo-tech school has been indicted on burglary and theft charges in connection to stealing from a non-profit he ran meant to help urban youth prepare for college.

Joseph Armstead, 47, pictured above, was arrested in April of this year. He has since been suspended, with pay, from his $126,712-a-year job.

He and another Middlesex County vo-tech administrator, Brian Bilal, 47, (unpictured), the assistant superintendent of Middlesex County vo-tech schools, were arrested Friday, April 13. Both men were charged with stealing more than $32,000 from the nonprofit, Aspire High Youth and Development.

However, all charges have now been dropped against Bilal, whereas Armstead was indicted July 20.

Aspire High Youth and Development received contracts with the Lakewood, Carteret and Franklin school districts. Armstead was listed on federal tax returns as the CEO of the non-profit, MyCentralJersey reported. Bilal was hired as an independent contractor to lead workshops for parents and do consulting.

The Middlesex County prosecutor charges that between March 2016 and August 2017, Armstead issued checks from the nonprofit to himself.

The county prosecutor also said Armstead burglarized the nonprofit facility and stole approximately $10,000 worth of property, which was recovered in a storage facility in Edison, police said. Detectives raided that storage facility with a search warrant.

Charges were dropped against Bilal the same day Armstead was indicted, July 20. Bilal said he expects to be reinstated by the school board at their Aug. 8 meeting.

Photo: John Armstead is pictured above, in his official photo from the Middlesex County public vo-tech school system.