Cop From Hasbrouck Heights Admits Role In Fraud Conspiracy

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ — A cop who lives in the borough plead guilty Tuesday to defrauding Jersey City by telling authorities he completed work he never did.

Victor Sanchez, 37, faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud in Newark federal court before Judge John Michael Vazquez, Acting U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick announced.

Sanchez and Christopher Ortega, 29, of Brick, admitted they consented to false and fraudulent work vouchers being submitted that outlined off-duty work assignments they performed, when they had not, Fitzpatrick said in a news release.

A third officer, James Cardinali, 38, of Jersey City, asked vendors who were performing work in the city's South District to sign the vouchers and state that an officer completed work, Fitzpatrick said. Cardinali then falsified on the vouchers that a specific police officer completed the assignment.

Sanchez and Ortega were paid by the city for the work and kicked back some of their pay to Cardinali, Fitzpatrick said.

Sanchez is required to forfeit more than $21,500 and faces a $250,000 fine, in addition to the possible five-year prison sentence for his role in the scheme.

Sentencing for all three men is scheduled for Nov. 6.

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