Dan Santaniello (Photo: Shorebeat)
Brick Township’s former Recreation Director Daniel Santaniello, a longtime staple at town hall whose tenure had been otherwise marked by high praise from colleagues and residents, has pleaded guilty to a theft charge.
Santaniello, 46, repaid the $9,260 prosecutors alleged he took from taxpayers in a scheme in which he would collect cash payments for permits and pocket the money. At the time of his sentencing on January 31, 2025, the state will be seeking a term of 180 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of Probation. Santaniello was required to resign from his position with Brick Township and forfeit any and all future public employment.
An investigation conducted by Brick police and the county prosecutor’s office revealed that in his position as director, Santaniello was responsible for issuing permits to private organizations for utilizing the township’s recreational facilities, including the township’s various softball fields. Private organizations wishing to utilize the fields were charged fees for their usage. The investigation concluded that Santaniello required certain organizations wishing to utilize the township’s fields to pay him directly in cash, rather than issuing checks to the township. Instead of depositing the cash into the township’s accounts, Santaniello kept the monies for himself. In order to conceal his theft, Santaniello provided the private organizations who paid him in cash with fraudulent permits.
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On July 17, 2024, Santaniello was taken into custody at his residence without incident by detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad and Brick Township Police Department. He was processed and served with the charges via summons pending future appearances in Ocean County Superior Court.
Senior Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Heisler handled the case for the prosecution.
