Former North Bergen Department of Public Works Supervisors Francis Longo and Troy Bunero have begun serving their five-year prison sentences, according to the state attorney general’s office.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale ordered Longo be taken into custody yesterday afternoon to begin serving his prison term, while Bunero suffered the same fate today, state attorney general’s office spokesman Peter Aseltine told Hudson County View via email.
Troy Bunero, 50, of North Bergen, and Francis Longo, 52, of Ridgefield Park, were sentenced to five years in state prison, with no possibility of parole during that term, by Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul M. DePascale in November.
Aseltine added that after posting bail, the two men remained free as they awaited the results of their conviction appeals. The AG’s office appealed that ruling and won and DePascale shot down the duos subsequent appeals in the past 24 hours (Longo yesterday, Bunero today).
The two men were convicted by a Hudson County jury on June 30, 2015 of second-degree charges of conspiracy, official misconduct and pattern of official misconduct, as well as third-degree charges of theft by unlawful taking and misapplication of government property.
Additionally, Bunero was convicted of third-degree tampering with public records and fourth-degree falsifying records for submitting false timesheets.
The verdict followed a seven-week trial. Bunero and Longo forfeited their jobs as a result of the verdict and are permanently barred from public employment.
Bunero had worked for North Bergen since 1998 and earned an annual salary of approximately $69,000. Longo had worked for North Bergen since 1993 and earned an annual salary of approximately $79,000.
Both men were suspended without pay after they were indicted in September 2012.