Middletown Man Stole From Red Bank Non-Profit, Prosecutor Alleges

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A man who lives in the Lincroft section of Middletown was criminally charged Monday with stealing thousands of dollars from the Red Bank non-profit where he worked.

Hazim Yassin, 32, of Lincroft, is charged with third-degree theft, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Monday. Yassin is also a former Red Bank town Councilman.

Yassin used to be the treasurer of the Red Bank Education Foundation. The organization funds educational opportunities in the areas of (STEAM) science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics for low-income and/or disadvantaged students in the Red Bank area.

He is accused from stealing from the non-profit over the past two years, said the county prosecutor.

An investigation by the Financial Crimes and Public Corruption unit of the Monmouth County Prosecutor was initiated earlier this year, after a financial audit identified a series of unauthorized withdrawals from its bank account that could not be reconciled, including four made in 2020, when the foundation was inactive due to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The investigation showed that at the time of the withdrawals, Yassin worked there as treasurer.

A review of financial records revealed that Yassin was responsible for the withdrawals, which totaled $7,650. Reference to some of them was also missing from the treasury reports he was tasked with compiling.

Yassin was not taken into police custody, but was served a summons, pending first appearance to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court.

Yassin is being represented by Freehold lawyer Robert A. Honecker, Jr. If convicted, he could face a prison term of up to five years.

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