Edison Police Capt. Admits to Stealing $38K in Sick Leave Pay

Edison, NJ - He was too sick to go into work as a police officer, but apparently felt well enough for his second job in mall security.

A retired Edison police captain admitted Tuesday to stealing more than $38,000 in sick pay leave from the Edison police department, all while he was overseeing mall security at the Menlo Park Mall.

Now-retired Edison police captain Andy Natale Fresco, 61 — known as Andrew or “Andy” — took sick days while he went to work as the director of security at the Menlo Park Mall from July 15 through September 30 of 2015, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said. He retired on October 1, 2015 and was charged Nov. 5. He pleaded guilty in New Brunswick Tuesday to third-degree theft by unlawful taking.

In total, he stole about $38,000 from the township, prosecutors said.

Under a plea agreement, Fresco may be sentenced to serve up to 180 days in custody and placed on probation. In addition, he agreed to repay the amount he stole from the township, currently estimated at $$38,162. He also will forfeit his public job and will be banned from public employment.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 11.