TRENTON, NJ — Two New Jersey men who operated a bogus Sept. 11 charity have pleaded guilty to theft by deception.
Acting state Attorney General John Hoffman says Stafford Township resident Thomas Scalgione and Tinton Falls resident Mark Niemczyk entered their pleas Monday.
The men took a custom-painted pickup truck to public events, where they sold T-shirts featuring the logos of the New York City police and fire departments. But authorities say they never gave any of the more than $50,000 in proceeds to the victims’ families or to charities as promised.
Prosecutors will recommend Niemczyk receive a 364-day county jail sentence and a probation term when he’s sentenced March 7. Scalgione’s plea deal calls for him to receive probation, but he could receive a jail sentence for violating an unrelated probation term.