Former North Bergen Department of Public Works Deputy Director Timothy Grossi, who was indicted just over 3 years ago for allegedly using DPW workers to campaign for elections while on township time, has once again had his criminal trial postponed, sources told Hudson County View.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Grossi, 76, of Jersey City, was charged by the State Attorney General’s Office with conspiracy, two counts of official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct, theft by unlawful taking, misapplication of entrusted property and property of government, tampering with public records or information and falsifying or tampering with records back on December 17, 2012.
Three months prior, then-North Bergen DPW Superintendent James Wiley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit official misconduct and was a key witness during last summer’s criminal trial of ex-DPW Supervisors Troy Bunero and Francis Longo.
Bunero and Longo, who worked under Grossi and Wiley, were convicted on all counts by a Hudson County Superior Court jury on June 30 and were sentenced to five years in state prison on November 12.
Additionally, on October 30, Joseph Lorenzo, a former North Bergen business owner who is the brother-in-law of NB DPW Commissioner Frank Gargiulo, was indicted for allegedly have DPW employees do construction at his deli while on township time.
Wiley, a cooperating witness for the government who testified that he wore a wire at North Bergen Bruins football games and Vainieri Funeral Home, is expected to testify at every trial associated with AG’s probe of the North Bergen DPW.
Grossi, who was scheduled to have jury selection begin on February 9, has had his attorneys – previously Sam DeLuca, who has since retired – and now Jeffrey Garrigan – told the court that lingering health issues have prevented him from standing trial thus far.
A clerk for Bergen County Superior Court Judge Margaret M. Foti, the presiding judge in the matter, could not confirm the date with Hudson County View today, but multiple sources with knowledge of the case indicated that April 19 would be the new start date for the trial.
While giving the closing arguments in the Bunero and Longo cases, New Jersey Deputy Attorney General Victor Salgado said that no one is getting “a free pass” in the agencies investigation of the NB DPW.
The State AG’s Office is also currently investigating the North Bergen Parks and Recreation Department, which was raided in March and led to two employees being indicted in August for allegedly falsifying timesheets.
