The plea deal agreed to between the state and former Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron, who was charged with using state health benefits to which he was not entitled, includes a requirement for him to pay more than $310,000 in restitution.
In a letter dated Sept. 27 from the state Attorney General’s Office to Byron’s public defender, Eric Shenkus, outlining the plea deal, the state said Byron acknowledged the condition that he must pay restitution for $310,585. He was given the option of paying that amount at the time of sentencing or setting up a payment plan with the court.
According to the letter, signed by Deputy Attorney General Brian Uzdavinis, the amount represents “full restitution.” Byron misused more than $600,000 in benefits over a 10-year period, according to documents filed earlier in court by the state Attorney General’s Office. An explanation for the differing amounts cited by the state was not immediately available.
The letter says Byron would plead guilty to theft by unlawful taking, falsifying or tampering with records, failure to pay tax and filing a false tax return. In return for the guilty plea, the state agreed not to pursue other charges, including misuse of office to participate in the state health benefits program or to obtain employment from a city vendor that resulted in income Byron did not report on his state tax returns.
Byron has agreed to forfeit any public employment and is “forever disqualified” from holding public office. He also agreed to not seek admission into the pretrial intervention program and to meet all other conditions of the plea agreement.
The letter says Byron agrees “to fully cooperate with the state of New Jersey,” which includes disclosure of all information about any activities he “and others” undertook and about which the attorney general might inquire. Current Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski have also been charged with misusing the benefits program. Both are maintaining their innocence.
The plea agreement was signed by Uzdavinis, Byron and Shenkus.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
