Mercer Police Employee Charged With Theft Of Over $250K In Property

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – An employee of the Robbinsville Township Police department has been charged with theft and other offenses after he stole and sold department property worth $250,000 for personal gain, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri and Robbinsville Township Police Chief Michael Polaski said Friday.

Eric Coran, 41, worked for 21 years at the Robbinsville Township Police Department. He was terminated from his job on Friday after being suspended without pay since July.

On Friday, a criminal complaint was signed charging Coran, of Medford, with second-degree official misconduct, multiple counts of theft, criminal computer activity and impersonation, and second-degree money laundering.

Coran has been employed by the Robbinsville Township Police Department as a communications officer since 2002. His responsibilities included purchasing, ordering, programming, and maintaining police equipment including police radios, emergency lights, sirens and controllers, Onofri said.

Between July 2021 and July 2022, Coran fraudulently obtained and altered purchase orders issued by the Township of Robbinsville to make unauthorized purchases for his own uses; making unauthorized purchases for his own uses utilizing the township’s Amazon account; and utilizing other means to steal Robbinsville property and funds, Onofri said.

Coran sold various police radios, emergency lights, sirens and controllers over the internet using an alias and mailed them throughout the United States utilizing his Medford residence as a return address, according to an investigation conducted by Mercer County Prosecutor’s Public Corruption Unit and the Robbinsville Township Police Department.

The approximate value of the stolen property is more than $250,000, Onofri said.

The investigation also revealed Coran utilized the credentials of both Chief Christopher Nitti and Chief Polaski without authorization to access and make alterations in a software program used by the Township of Robbinsville for budgeting and financial purposes to further and cover up his crimes, authorities said.

“Eric was a long-time, trusted employee serving 21 years with the police department. He was an important member of the team,” Chief Polaski said. “We were both shocked and disappointed to learn that this had been going on.”

Coran’s crimes were uncovered in July when Motorola contacted the Robbinsville Township Police Department regarding service of one of the stolen radios, authorities said. The matter was brought to the attention of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and a joint investigation ensued.

“No one is above the law, especially public servants,” Onofri said. “Individuals who abuse their positions and violate public trust should be prepared to face the consequences.”

Second-degree crimes carry a penalty of five to 10 years in state prison and a $150,000 fine. Third-degree crimes carry a penalty of three to five years in state prison and a $15,000 fine. If convicted of the second-degree crime of money laundering, Coran faces a penalty of five–10 years in state prison, to run consecutive to the theft charges, and a $200,000 fine. Additionally, he would be subject to a $500,000 anti-money laundering profiteering penalty.

The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Coran pending trial.

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