Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 69-year-old BRUCE PIEKARSKY of Davie, FL on charges of theft, misapplication of entrusted property, and tampering with public records. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
In September 2023, the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts referred information to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit regarding an allegation of misappropriation of funds involving a former court officer who was responsible for money collection pursuant to civil court orders. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit initiated an investigation into the alleged activity. The comprehensive, months-long investigation revealed that BRUCE PIEKARSKY mishandled funds that he was entrusted to collect beginning in 2014. Specifically, an audit of his activity revealed approximately $1.5 million in missing funds that were collected in his capacity as an officer of the court.
As a result of the investigation, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, BRUCE PIEKARSKY was arrested in Paramus, NJ by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and charged with second-degree theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-9; second-degree misapplication of entrusted property, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-15; and third-degree tampering with public records, N.J.S.A. 2C:28-7(a)(3). PIEKARSKY was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the New Jersey Judiciary, Administrative Office of the Courts for its assistance in this investigation.