WALL – Additional criminal charges have been filed against a Wall Township Police Department Sergeant for allegedly stealing more than $75,000 from his local Police Benevolent Association (PBA) chapter, authorities said.
James R. Cadigan, 41, charged with second-degree Official Misconduct, third-degree Theft by Deception, third-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking, and fourth-degree Falsifying Records, in addition to the original charge of second-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking.
The Wall Township PBA Local No. 234 contacted authorities after noticing that a large amount of cash proceeds was missing following an annual fundraising event that was held last year.
According to police, Cadigan was responsible for arranging and running the event in 2022 as well as previous years. The proceeds made from this event are donated to various charitable organizations.
Detectives discovered that Cadigan made numerous unauthorized cash withdrawals from multiple PBA bank accounts beginning in 2018. Cadigan also wrote checks to himself and to cash from these accounts.
Authorities further discovered that from February 2020 to November 2022, Cadigan has access to a debit card belonging to Wall American Youth Football (AYF) nonprofit organization, to which he was the President of, and used for his own personal purchases totaling to about $20,000.
Items included pool pumps and chemicals, a quilted hammock, a truck hitch, a karaoke machine, a weight sled trainer, a boot warmer, an inflatable movie screen, grill tools and accessories, a pressure washer, backyard and holiday decorations, and accessories for tapping and serving draft beer.
It was also revealed that Cadigan did not apply for a required license for a 50/50 raffle held for the 2022 event, instead falsifying the license number for the raffle tickets. He also organized a powderpuff football game involving mothers of AYF football players, with about $3,000 in proceeds intended to be donated to a breast cancer awareness and prevention charity, He instead allegedly pocketed the money for himself.
Cadigan was served the new charges against him via summons through his attorney on April 19, pending future proceedings to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact MCPO Detective Brian Hammarstrom at 800-533-7443.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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