Jackson Man Charged with Stealing Money from NJ High School Rodeo Association

Dinesh Patel

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced the arrest of Eugene M. Nieratko, 42, of Jackson Township.   Nieratko is charged with 3rd degree Theft by Deception for the misappropriation of association finances.

Nieratko’s arrest took place on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, when he surrendered to Ocean County Prosecutor’s Economic Crime Unit Detectives James Conroy and Stephen T. Shadiack Jr. at the 119 Hooper Avenue office.  Nieratko was the President of the NJ High School Rodeo Association and had accepted monies from 9/01/2016 – 8/31/2017 from families that were to be applied to cover the insurance and fees for each rider.  The investigation began when OCPO was notified by several of the families that they had suspicions their payments were not actually being applied for the described services.

The partnering detectives investigation alleges that Nieratko took the money in the form of cash and checks that he requested be made out to his name.  He would allegedly keep the cash and cash the checks at a check cashing facility in Lakehurst, NJ.  The investigation and review of records provided by the families and the National Rodeo Association out of Colorado revealed that Nieratko had allegedly taken approximately $32,000 without applying the monies to the riders’ insurance or fees.

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OCPO Economic Crime Unit Detective James Conroy was the lead investigator.  Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jill O’Malley reviewed Conroy’s investigative findings and approved the above charge.  Nieratko was served his complaint summons and released to answer the charge in court at a future date.


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