Hudson County Weights And Measures Superintendent Arrested, Charged With Theft

SECAUCUS, NJ — The former Hudson County Superintendent of Weights and Measures was arrested Tuesday following a theft investigation.

Frank Alonso, 58, a Union City resident, was arrested by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Unit.

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He is charged with three counts of second-degree official misconduct; a pattern of official misconduct in the second degree; two counts of second-degree theft and one count of third-degree theft.

He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and released pending his first court appearance.

The county office of weights and measures has to make sure all commercial devices — such as gas pumps, grocery scales, parking meters and scanners — are weighing accurately. In some counties, they also oversee law enforcement devices, such as laser guns and radar tuning forks used for speed enforcement.

The Hudson Count Prosecutor says that on various dates between January 2024 and January 2026, Alonso diverted funds intended for the Hudson Regional Health Commission, the Office of Weights and Measures, and the New Jersey Weights and Measures Association.

He moved the money into his own accounts for his personal gain, said Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello. In a separate complaint, he is charged with third-degree theft for using checks without the authorization of the account holder for personal gain. The reported thefts exceed $250,000.

Hudson County said it immediately suspended Alonso when the theft was reported and he was later terminated from his position.

The investigation into Alonso started in late December, said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy.

“Corrupt public officials must be held accountable for their bad actions. In late December my administration initiated a proactive investigation, led by County Counsel Alberico De Pierro, into irregularities in the Office of Weights and Measures, an agency under the leadership of then-Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari," Guy said in a statement Tuesday. "We immediately conducted an internal audit and gathered evidence from state and municipal agencies. We referred the matter and handed over these materials to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office in swift fashion. I suspended Frank Alonso without pay and terminated his employment soon after. I applaud the Prosecutor’s Office for carrying out this investigation."

The Hudson County Office of Weights and Measures is now under the Hudson County Law Department, "to provide better oversight of the agency," said Guy.

Also this week, Guy established the first-ever Office of Inspector General in Hudson County to serve as an internal watchdog for county government. The arrest of Alonso comes after two Hudson County Parks directors were indicted this spring for receiving bribes for giving out contracts to work in county parks.

Both former parks directors, Russell Fallacara and Thomas DeLeo, and the contractor who paid them off to get the jobs in Hudson County parks, pleaded guilty and are facing prison time.

2nd Hudson County Parks Director Pleads Guilty In $5M Bribery, Kickback Scheme (July)

Laurel Hill Park Is Deteriorating After 2 Hudson County Parks Directors Were Indicted (June)

2 Hudson County Parks Directors Accused Of Taking Bribes For Contracts (March)