NEW JERSEY – A former investigator for the NJ Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) allegedly sent inappropriate sexual texts to crime victims who were seeking support, state officials said.
Guilherme H. Jamarino, 47, of Point Pleasant, was charged by complaint-warrant with second-degree official misconduct stemming from an investigation that began with a referral from the VCCO.
VCCO is an agency within the Department of Law and Public Safety that “provides financial assistance as the payer of last resort to victims of crime to alleviate the economic and emotional burdens of victimization.”
As an investigator with the VCCO in Newark, Jamarino was assigned to handle the cases of multiple crime victims seeking financial assistance, housing relocation, or other aid.
Jamarino was subject to the State Uniform Ethics Code, which provides, among other things, that “[n]o State officer or employee … should use or attempt to use his/her official position to secure unwarranted privileges or advantages for him/herself or others.”
According to state officials, Jamarino used his personal cell phone to communicate through text message and social media apps with at least four victims regarding their VCCO claims. This occurred between December 9, 2021 to July 20, 2022.
Jamarino allegedly sent messages to the victims – conversations shifting from a professional nature to inappropriate and oftentimes sexual and explicit.
“Several victims reported they were often upset and confused by the communications, since Jamarino was their point of contact, as the VCCO investigator, and responsible for supporting their claims process,” officials said.
Jamarino’s employment with the VCCO was ended on July 25, 2022.
“The mission of the VCCO is to compassionately serve New Jersey crime victims in a manner that is mindful of the trauma they have suffered and their right to be treated with fairness, compassion and respect. The alleged conduct of the defendant made a mockery of that mission,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “His alleged misuse of his authority to engage in sexual communications with VCCO victims was a violation of his professional duties and the law, and a betrayal of the trust those victims placed in him and the VCCO. We intend to hold him fully accountable for his conduct and the immense harm it caused those he had a duty to assist.”
In addition, Jamarino allegedly sent several inappropriate photographs of himself to the VCCO victims whose cases were assigned to him.
“For example, he allegedly sent one victim a photo of himself shirtless wearing a towel, and a video of himself from the neck up in the shower. He allegedly sent another victim a photo of himself looking in a mirror wearing only a towel and gripping the towel in front of his groin. Jamarino then sent the same victim a message that said, ‘send the address, and I’ll come get you’ and included two heart-eyed emojis. Jamarino allegedly sent the same victim additional messages in the days that followed, including one which read: ‘send pics, pretty lady. Full body pics if you have any,’” according to a statement.
Jamarino also allegedly sent messages to several victims asking them to come over to his apartment, or, in another case, asking a victim what city she lived in so he could drive out to where she lived. He allegedly offered to give another victim a massage and sent the victim a picture of an undressed woman receiving a massage.
Jamarino allegedly sent more than one victim photos of himself at a gun range and sent another victim a shirtless picture of himself with guns in the background, knowing that she was a victim of gun violence.
More than one of the victims reported these images made them fear for their safety, officials stated.
Jamarino faces five to 10 years in prison, including a mandatory period of five years of parole ineligibility, and a fine of up to $150,000.
The criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
If you believe you were a victim of Jamarino’s conduct, contact Detective Elizabeth Lansing of OPIA at 609-376-6701. OPIA has a toll-free Tipline 1-844-OPIA-TIP for the public to report corruption. The AG’s Office has an Anti-Corruption Reward Program that offers a reward of up to $25,000 for tips leading to a conviction for a crime involving public corruption: nj.gov/oag/corruption/reward.html.
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