Ex-Lawrence Mayor Admits Stealing From Housing Authority: Police

ASBURY PARK, NJ — Former Lawrence Township Mayor and Councilman Mark W. Holmes Sr. has admitted to stealing more than $90,000 from the Asbury Park Housing Authority between 2008 and 2011, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Holmes, who was the Housing Authority's Executive Director at the time, used that money to give himself a $50,000 salary increase and pay for spa treatments, visits to gentlemen's clubs and rides in a stretch limousine for himself and his family, according to the prosecutor.

Holmes, 56, of Lawrence Township, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft by unlawful taking before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge John R. Tassini on Tuesday, according to Gramiccioni.

He faces five years in state prison when he returns for his April 6 sentencing. As part of his plea agreement, Holmes agreed to pay $35,000 in restitution for money he had not previously reimbursed to the Asbury Park Housing Authority. He will also forfeit his government-funded pension as well as any future public employment in New Jersey.

"Everyone, including public officials, must be held accountable when they break the law. Public service is a privilege and requires a level of trust by our constituents – a trust that Mr. Holmes exploited," Gramiccioni said.

Before serving as Asbury Park Housing Authority Executive Director, Holmes was the deputy director. Just months before assuming the top role at the authority, Holmes received a $99,897 grant award from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This Literacy Skills Training Grant was intended to provide training in computers and other marketable skills for Asbury Park public housing residents.

Between November 2008 and August 2009, with Holmes serving as executive director, the housing authority received more than $75,000 from the state as part of the training grant. Holmes transferred more than $58,000 of the funds to the APHA Community Development Corporation, an organization he created and rather than use the money for training purposes, Holmes used the money to fund a $50,000 salary increase for himself without APHA board approval.

Holmes opened up credit cards in the name of the "APHA" and "APHA Community Development Corporation" and used the cards for personal expenses. He changed the mailing addresses for the bills to go directly to his home and racked up more than $30,000 in debt.

While serving as executive director for a two-and- a-half year period, Holmes went on more than 30 business trips across the country. Prior to these trips, Holmes received more than $22,000 in per diem payments from the APHA which were intended to cover meal expenses while away on business.

Upon his return, even though he had already received these monies, Holmes sought and received duplicate reimbursements from the APHA for meals. He alsoused authority funds for spa treatments, hotel in-room movies and gentlemen's clubs. On at least three occasions, he used official funds to pay for stretch limousine service to transport him and his family to and from the airport.

Holmes used more than $13,000 in authority funds for unauthorized meal expenses in the Asbury Park and Lawrenceville areas.

In November 2012, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office launched a Corruption Tip Line designed to solicit the public's assistance in identifying and targeting corruption, fraud and misconduct occurring in local governmental agencies.

Story by Carol Williams, Patch Staff

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