New Jersey State Police spent several hours searching offices inside Trenton City Hall Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation involving alleged misconduct by a former city employee and money that may not have been deposited into city accounts.
Investigators removed boxes of evidence from City Hall while examining activity connected to the city’s Division of Inspections and Department of Housing and Economic Development.
The investigation is being conducted in conjunction with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
What Investigators Are Looking Into
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora said the investigation involves allegations surrounding money paid for permits.
According to the mayor, the former employee performed a clerical function and the allegation is that some of the money collected was not deposited into the city’s account.
The amount of money potentially missing has not been publicly disclosed.
The former employee has also not been publicly identified.
As of Tuesday evening, authorities had not announced any criminal charges connected with the investigation.
City Says It Discovered the Issue in 2024
The investigation did not begin with Tuesday’s search.
According to an official statement from the City of Trenton, the administration became aware of allegations involving an employee in the Department of Housing and Economic Development in 2024.
The city then conducted its own internal investigation.
The employee separated from city employment that same year, and Trenton referred the matter and its findings to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office for further investigation.
State Police Remove Evidence From City Hall
On Tuesday morning, New Jersey State Police detectives arrived at City Hall and searched the Division of Inspections and Department of Housing and Economic Development.
The search lasted several hours, and investigators were seen removing boxes of evidence from the building.
The Attorney General’s Office has confirmed that the search was conducted as part of an ongoing investigation but has declined to provide additional details about what investigators were seeking or the specific subject of the investigation.
Mayor Says City Is Cooperating
Mayor Gusciora said Trenton is cooperating fully with state investigators and emphasized that the city itself referred the allegations to law enforcement.
“We have zero tolerance for any kind of corruption,” Gusciora told 6abc while discussing the investigation.
The mayor also said the city has since installed cameras in reception areas to provide additional oversight.
Questions Remain
While Tuesday’s search confirms that the state investigation remains active nearly two years after the original allegations surfaced, several important questions remain unanswered.
Authorities have not disclosed how much money may be missing, exactly what evidence was collected Tuesday or whether anyone is expected to face charges.
For now, the investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been publicly announced.
Source: David Wildstein / X