Plea Deal Requires Him to Cooperate Against Former Co-defendants Troiano Jr., Mikulski
COURT HOUSE – Former Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron pleaded guilty on Sept. 27 to charges that he misused the State Health Benefits Plan, in an agreement that will have him cooperating in the prosecution of his former co-defendants, current Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski.
Byron’s guilty plea in Superior Court was to charges of theft, records tampering and filing a false tax return. He could have faced up to 16.5 years in prison, but Deputy Attorneys General Brian Uzdavinis and Niccole L. Sandora agreed to treat him as a third-degree offender and recommended a sentence of three years in prison.
Byron, Troiano and Mikulski were charged by the state Office of the Attorney General with misusing the health plan, which requires that elected officials work a minimum of 35 hours per week to make them full-time employees and thus be eligible for the state benefits. Attorney General Matthew Platkin said the three did not qualify for the benefits.
According to court records, Byron used more than $608,000 in benefits from July 2011 through October 2021. Troiano used $286,500 in benefits from July 2011 through December 2019, when he was previously mayor. Mikulski became a Wildwood commissioner in 2020, when he enrolled in the benefits plan, and used more than $103,000 in benefits through October 2021.
Troiano and Mikulski maintain that they are innocent and that they worked the requisite number of hours to qualify for benefits. The three men originally were charged together, but their cases later were separated by Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury.
A call to Byron’s cellphone number found a recording that said the number is no longer in service. His attorney did not answer his extension.
A call to Troiano’s cellphone went to voicemail. Troiano’s attorney was said to be in a meeting when the Herald called.
Mikulski said he was caught off guard by Byron’s guilty plea and would be meeting with his attorney on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
“I’m not worried about what Pete has to say. My case is different,” he said.
Mikulski’s attorney was not immediately available.
As part of his plea arrangement, Byron is barred from holding future public employment, must pay restitution and must cooperate with the Attorney General’s Office in the prosecution of Troiano and Mikulski.
Byron, 69, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2025, but the date could be affected by the cases against the other two.
Only Byron faced federal and state tax charges. He pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges on Aug. 2, 2023, received three years’ probation and was ordered to pay fines and taxes. He was later ordered to forfeit his office by Sept. 21, and he resigned on that date.
In April, the state filed similar tax evasion charges against Byron for the same offense. Byron was charged with working a no-show job and then failing to claim about $40,000 in income on his tax return.
Troiano and Mikulski have expressed confidence they will be cleared of any wrongdoing. They are each expected to appear next in Superior Court on Friday, Oct. 18.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
