Assemblyman Schroeder Offered Plea Deal
Robert Schroeder would have to forfeit his seat in the New Jersey State Assembly as a condition of the deal.
State officials offered New Jersey Assemblyman Robert Schroeder a plea deal for the charges that he swindled $1.8 million from investors and wrote bad checks worth $3.4 million for loan payments during an arraignment hearing Friday morning.
Deputy Attorney General Veronica Allende offered Schroeder a sentence of five years in state prison if he pleads guilty to the second degree offenses of writing bad checks and theft by deception.
As conditions of the plea, Schroeder would have to agree to pay back about $5 million in restitution, forfeit his State Assembly seat and agree to be barred from ever holding public office again.
Schroeder, a Washington Township resident who represents District 39 in the Assembly, declined to comment.
Judge Julie M. Marino released Schroeder on his own recognizance, but did order Schroeder to forfeit his passport and required that he make no contact with the alleged victims.
Schroeder has until March 15 to make a decision on the deal. He is due back in Somerset County Superior Court May 17 at 9 a.m.
If Schroeder doesn't take the deal, he faces charges of issuing bad checks, theft by deception, and misconduct by a corporate official. If found guilty, he could face punishments as severe as five to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $150,000 for each offense.
Schroeder was first arrested by State Police last August and charged with writing about $400,000 in bad checks. He was was later indicted by a grand jury for allegedly stealing $1,887,000 from five individuals who believed they were investing in a housing project in North Dakota.
The indictment also included charges that Schroeder knowingly wrote bad checks for loan payments at least 47 times, for a total value of $3,431,150.
Judgments against Schroeder in civil courts in New Jersey have totalled more than $13 million over the past year.
He was recently banned from doing business with the federal government for allegedly failing to deliver tents to a military base in Afghanistan and failing to pay a subcontractor.
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Dana Egbert
11:41 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Justice is blind. Justice is equal for the elite and the low income....what a joke this justice system is to let him get a light sentence.
realtor1
11:49 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
I agree, let the crook rot for 15 years!
Chas P
12:49 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
HE HAS DISGRACED HIMSELF, HIS OFFICE AND HIS FAMILY. SCHROEDER HAS BETRAYED THE PUBLIC TRUST. HE HAS BETRAYED THE TROOPS, THAT PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE EVERYDAY SO HE COULD LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
Bike Nut
12:56 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
I hate plea bargains. They cheapen justice so the prosecutors' conviction rate looks better for when they run for an office in the ruling class of politicians.
CG
1:14 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Why give him to March 15th to make up his mind. He shouldn't even be offered a deal. If he is guilty as charged, throw the book at him...
Martin Ward
1:51 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
No deals for public officials. Lock him up for the max allowed, demand full restitution. This might stop criminals from running for office.
realtor1
1:51 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
But of course in the end he'll do his time in a facility which will resemble a country club. Then get out and run for President!
barbara tahaney
2:44 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
How can he look himself in the mirror,when he has deceived so many people. He should not be given a plea deal. He needs to serve the full sentence!
Norina Crea
12:18 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
who actually wrote those checks for him?
clara
12:18 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
He is not a criminal he did not steal from anyone. The economy has been a disaster during this current President that distroyed thousands of familys income,while lost jobs and homes!banruptcy was at all time high. He is a great father and a great friend!!
B@B
5:06 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Clara, your loyalty is admirable, if blind. Part of running a business is preparing for lean times, and obviously Bob Schroeder did not do that. Then, when he couldn't sustain his lavish lifestyle of Big Man Around Town and Big Republican Gravy Train Donor, he started exploiting the trust of people like you --borrowing money and making up phony "investment projects" that didn't exist, and that he had no ability and no intention of making good on.
And don't blame Obama for Schroeder's troubles. His businesses are based on military contracts. Those wax and wane, thank goodness, for that big white house was paid for with the blood of American soldiers. Are you saying that we should fight perpetual wars because Bob Schroeder is a swell guy? I don't think you will find many takers on that. You may not like Obama but he didn't turn Bob Schroeder into a third and a grifter. Many of us have had to scale back. Bob Schroeder didn't think he should have to. Pride goeth before a fall.
Bike Nut
5:06 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
The court disagrees with your facts. He's a criminal.
21st century concerned citizen
5:06 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Amazing distortion of the facts. I cannot believe you have the nerve to blame Schroeder's issues on the President of the United States. The countries economic issues have nothing to do with the fact that Schroeder lived a lavish life style while his businesses were incurring losses. He borrowed not only from financial institutions; but also from friends stating that he would pay back the funds. He even donated his borrowed funds to the Republican party to the tune of $400,000!!!!!!!!!
His company took contracts from the United States military for tents for our troops and never delivered the goods. Are you kidding me!!!! This is a travesty. Don't blame his issues on our government
Disgusted
12:18 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Plea deal...throw his butt in jail for 20 years! if that was any average joe, he would be in jail by now....shows the corruption in NJ gov!
kdkins
5:06 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Mr. Schroeder should not be given any choices - he should have to pay for his crimes the same way any one of us would. The individuals who were "swindled" out of their money -- do they have any choices? The owner of the bicycle store, for instance, does he get a choice about how his money gets returned to him? Or when? These were trusting townspeople who trusted Mr. Schroeder, and he couldn't even be honest with them. Now, we give him a choice of what charges he's face? A or B? He should be thrown in jail - he is a criminal who has no remorse. He should have been forced out of his political position months ago. Much like Westwood school Superintendent Zoeller, who gets to sit on his posterior for six months collecting a salary for "resigning" - there isn't any real urgency to set this right. Easier to just let a criminal sit in his Assembly seat. Yes, let him continue to influence decisions made in our area. The path of least resistance is path we follow here. No one wants to make a difficult decision and be responsible for it - this is the disease that plagues us.
Steve Wolf
5:06 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
He mis-lead many people and took their money knowing they would never get it back. He should pay it back now and go to jail for 5 years. If he cannot pay it back give him 20 years in State prison not the federal country club.
Joe Taxpayer
5:06 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
On the positive side at least he's not having sex with children or getting free rides and going to bat for a tax cheat rich donor like US Senator Bobby Menendez allegedly did.
B@B
10:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Please explain the connection, Joe Taxpayer. Are you saying that your speculation about Bob Melendez for which he has not yet been indicted means that Bob Schroeder, who stole from friends and neighbors who thought they knew him and trusted him, should get a free pass? How do you figure that?
Martin Ward
10:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
The questions no one asked Menendez are. You sell yourself as a man of the people, how do you run up a $58,000 bill for 6 days in the DR? Will you provide a detailed accounting of those expenses?
B@B
9:43 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
Martin: This has nothing to do with Menendez. Can you please take that discussion back to Breitbart.com where it belongs?
B@B
11:23 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
For the benefit of Martin and Joe Taxpayer: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/escort-says-menendez-prostitution-claims-were-made-up/2013/03/04/31299fe2-8514-11e2-999e-5f8e0410cb9d_story.html
TWP. Guy
5:06 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Lets get right to the point! How much $ does the DA and Judge get out of this deal? I hope Schroedster writes them bad checks too! These are felony offenses! No bail 5mo's for court date, Due Process? Hey DA it's 5yr. min on each count! What law school did you go to. It must be the " Ken Zisa Syndrome" .
scruffy
5:06 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Wow Clara, really? Not a criminal? I guess you have strange definitions. He is a good father and husband and friend maybe by the definition of personality yes. However morals , no.
He knew what he was doing. He got in high over his head in debt and obligation and like others who have walked in his shoes just kept plugging along. The difference is he knew better and kept doing it. We will never know the whole depth and breath of the situation as to who knew what and when. What do know is enough. He needs to "MAN" up, serve his sentence and get back to his family after that. His bigger apologies will be reserved for them as it is they who he has let down the most.
We will all long forget except for those who he duped and are out anywhere from a few thousand to millions.
clara
10:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Apparently all of you forget the premise of our judicial system which states that one is innocent until proven guilty. You are basing your facts based upon an indictment being issued.We all know that the government can indict a ham sandwich and you would be better off reserving judgement until after all the evidence is in and a verdict is rendered. I can point to a countless number of cases where over zealous prosecutors bring forth charges leading to indictment where the defendant was adjudicated as not guilty ( John Delorean, David Lee Wiggins amoung thousands of others). None of us have all the facts at this juncture and none of the evidence submitted to the Grand Jury has been subject to cross examination . All I am saying is that he has served his constituents well and he is entitled to a fair hearing of the facts and it just makes sense to wait until the process has run its course.
B@B
9:43 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
Clara: You are correct in that one is innocent until proven guilty. But unless you want to say that all of the banks that are foreclosing on his properties and suing him for loans not paid, and all of the individuals, many of whom have not even come forward, are lying through their teeth to persecute this wonderful wonderful man, you have to admit that there is a preponderance of evidence as to his guilt. I understand that those who saw Mr. Schroeder as a good man are shocked and disbelieving. I get that, I really do. But this isn't a case of him stumbling across a body and then finding himself on trial for murder because there's no one else to accuse. There is documentation about his deeds. The justice system will decide whether he goes to jail, but a trial is not about "proving innocence." It is about whether there is sufficient evidence to convict.
Disgusted
10:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Clara...writing 3.5 milllion in bad checks is not stealing.......CAN I SELL YOU A BRIDGE I OWN IN NY???? WOW...you need new friends! Do you also have friends on the School Board? Are you good with my taxes paying for two superintendence also. Anybody else would be fired...yet we as property taxe and income tax payers are forced to continue to pay...your FRIEND is still earning his $50 salary from the state.......New Jersey don't ya just love it!
Mary Alice Jones
10:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
A good father sets a good example for his children. A good friend does not borrow money and not pay it back. What he did was illegal, he is getting the benefit of the doubt because he is a "congressman"- if you or I borrowed money and didn't pay it back we would be in jail - so should he. Now, instead of being a good dad, he is an embarrassment for his kids. Money and power corrupt - he was corrupted by both.
Jeffrey Tammen
10:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Clara maybe you should payback all the investors and people who gave retirement funds or savings and lost every thing to him and now might have to work longer or l
Jeffrey Tammen
10:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Lose there house to foreclosure or kids not going to college . It's nice to see your loyalty I'm guessing you did not loan him money.but his action are criminal,what would you call maddoff ?
kdkins
8:37 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
Yes....by all means - let's wait to see what happens! That's what we do here! Wait and see if anybody notices that our Assemblyman is a crook. Wait and see if anyone proves he's a crook (that's why he had his contracts with the government cancelled), and even if they do - let's wait until the townspeople notice! If they don't notice, why do anything? The path of least resistance - that's our motto! To Mr. Schroeder, the 50K for his Assembly job is SMALL POTATOES, a drop in the big bucket.....I'm sure he doesn't understand what all the fuss is about. Mary Alice has it right -- the example set for not only his children - but all who respected him in this district - all the people who supported and voted for him! The children of the Township and Westwood have witnessed the unbelievable example of his bad judgement, and they have watched that he is NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS. The Superintendent of Schools was NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS. How do you think that affects the developing character of the young people in our schools? Are they motivated to be "good citizens" when all they see is that those in positions of power are NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS OR DECISIONS?
Robert
8:33 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Kdkins
The district had a choice with the Former Super. They could have filed tenure charges against him . However it would have winded up costing the town more money then just paying him until the end of the school year . Knowing how reticent judges are to remove tenure given what the charges would be it would not be granted . That is the problem with the system. It is frustrating and we will never achieve real change until that changes. When tenure charges are filed they are not paid for a period of three months. After that time period they have to reinstated and are paid until the case is adjudicated .Waiting for that trial to be scheduled alone could take one year . What the Board did not do is properly explain why they made the decesion to pay him. I agree with you that the level of protection afforded to public employees is nothing short of insane, However know ing how the system works it was the most prudent thing to do under the circumstances.
21st century concerned citizen
2:22 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
@Clara He was was later indicted by a grand jury for allegedly stealing $1,887,000 from five individuals who believed they were investing in a housing project in North Dakota. Again, I must defer to the facts in the case of Robert Schroeder. In Fact a Grand Jury has already Indicted him for the theft of $1,887,000.
I must also say that your remark regarding our current President is also not factual. US companies are incurring record profits. The stock market is near an all time high and while the overall economy is not where it should be our GDP is growing each quarter at a modest rate. Mr Schoreder's company accepted a purchase order for the US Military for a tent that was to house our troops in Afganistan. He never delivered the product but did accept payment. He issued 47 checks without having the funds in his bank account. This is a criminal matter. Business people do go through difficult times but once they issue checks without having the funds to back up the payments it is a criminal matter. I certainly do feel sorry for his family, but I do not feel sorry for a person who has broken the law.
Robert
3:16 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
There is a difference in being indicted and being found guilty. Yes there is a reasonable body of evidence to get an indictment, however he is entitled to a trial . So let the defendent have his day in court and if he is found guilty then he should be punished to the extent the law.
In terms of the Obama supporter unemployment is almost double the stated amount if you figure the number of people who just gave up looking for work and those that are under employed. If you were an engineer and lost that job , but got a job in McDonalds technically you are employed .Companies are not hiring , and the majority of profits from cost cutting ie outsourcing to places like China and India .
B@B
3:54 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Robert: I agree with you that we should let the system go forward. But that does not mean Mr. Schroeder is entitled to keep his Assembly seat. Gov. Christie has called for the resignation of the Democratic mayor of Trenton who was indicted in December, and yet he is utterly silent about Mr. Schroeder. The double standard being used here is appalling. Mr. Schroeder is entitled to his day in court, but he is not entitled to represent us in the state Assembly. He should salvage what little dignity he has left and resign. If he is acquitted, then it should be up to the people in the 39th district to decide if they want him to represent them in Trenton.
21st century concerned citizen
10:02 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Robert perhaps I was not clear in my comment. I personally do not agree with the President's economic strategy. What I do have an issue with is comparing Schroeder's actions with the action's of our National Government. There are many factors for business failures including mismanagement of the business by the owner or shareholders. To blame Schroeder's actions on the policies of our national government is ridiculous. The government has laws with respect to having sufficient funds in a checking account when writing checks. I lost my job during the recession but I also did not borrow money from financial institutions and friends; and attempt to pay them back with worthless checks. I also wrote a detailed budget and lived within my financial constraints
realtor1
4:22 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
B@B,
The Govenor did mention sometime ago that he should resign.
Robert
8:33 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
B@B
Relative to your comment I agree he should have stepped down, as the time to fight those charges would certainly take up a good deal of his time , rendering him unable to devote his full time to his job as Assemblymen. One quick note for reference , if you recall Anthony Suarez who was indicted with the Solomen Dweck mess , remained in office fought the charges and was ultimetly acquited .