Wildwood Mayor, Indicted In State Benefits Case, Resigns Post

WILDWOOD, NJ — Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud and is facing charges of health benefit fraud, resigned from his post as mayor on Thursday.

Deputy Mayor Krista Fitzsimons will take over his duties, a statement on the city website said. and the departments Byron oversaw will report to the city administrator Steve O'Connor.

Byron was sentenced in August to probation after pleading guilty in March to two counts of failing to report income to the IRS, NJ.com reported. He owed more than $7,000 in unpaid federal taxes on income he received while working as a salesman for a law firm in Gloucester County, the report said.

Byron, 67, was indicted in August by state authorities on charges of official misconduct, theft by unlawful taking, tampering with records and falsifying records. That indictment, which also names Wildwood Commissioner Steve Mikulski and former mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., alleges the three fraudulently enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program.

To be eligible for health benefits under the program, the employee must work a minimum of 35 hours per week.

"The investigation revealed that Byron, Troiano, and Mikulski were never eligible because they were never “full-time” employees as defined by state law. They did not receive vacation, sick, or personal days, and maintained no regular schedule," the state attorney general's office said.

Byron issued a statement with the resignation announcement, saying: "It is with deep sadness — yet great hope — for the continued prosperity of Wildwood, that I resign as Mayor of the City of Wildwood, NJ. I have held the honor and pleasure of serving my community as Commissioner for the past 12 years."

"Though I may not be at City Hall, I am still available to help with issues and will be happy to continue to assist my hometown of Wildwood in any way possible," Byron said. "For now, I will focus on being the best dad and grandfather to my loving family."