A state grand jury voted to file criminal charges against Susaida Nazario, 44, of Trenton, New Jersey. As alleged, the defendant sought and received the payments between approximately January 2021 and August 2021 while working as a technical assistant for the DCF IT Division in Trenton.

“Protecting children is one of my top priorities, and it is essential that those entrusted with protecting our children uphold the trust we place in them,” said Attorney General Davenport. “DCF records are kept confidential by law to protect the life, safety, and welfare of children. Illegally disclosing that information, and putting vulnerable children at risk for personal gain, is unconscionable.”

“The public rightfully expects that State employees with access to sensitive information about children will follow the law, perform their jobs with integrity, and act responsibly,” said Eric L. Gibson, Executive Director of OPIA. “Instead, in this case, the defendant allegedly misused her access for her own benefit.”

The investigation revealed that Nazario allegedly misrepresented herself as a DCF caseworker to an individual who was involved in a matter being handled by the Division of Child Protection & Permanency (DCPP). Nazario further allegedly pursued and received monetary payments from that individual in exchange for assistance with their DCPP case, including offering to disclose confidential case information to that individual.

The indictment charges a total of four counts including the following:

• Bribery in Official and Political Matters (second degree)

• Acceptance or Receipt of Unlawful Benefit by Public Servant for Official Behavior (second degree)

• Official Misconduct (second degree)

• Theft by Deception (third degree)

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in New Jersey state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in New Jersey state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Deputy Attorneys General Robert J. Serrano and Randolph Mershon are prosecuting the case for OPIA, under the supervision of Deputy Corruption Bureau Chief Laura Croce, Bureau Director Jeffrey J. Manis, and OPIA Executive Director Gibson.

Defense counsel:

Matthew Mordas, Esq., Trenton, New Jersey