Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced indictments against six women and two companies for allegedly defrauding the taxpayer-funded New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury Fund (TBI Fund) of over $700,000. The defendants were accused of participating in a decade-long conspiracy to unlawfully divert funds meant for victims of traumatic brain injuries.

The indicted individuals include Maria Sirange Viana DeSouza, Marlene Souza-Sales, Patricia Souza Lima, Stephanie Andrade, Estela Marisol Zapata, Clara Rincon, Marlene’s Cleaning Service LLC, and S&N Household Management LLC. These defendants were allegedly involved in a scheme where fraudulent vendor payments were made by the TBI Fund, resulting in funds being misdirected to them without providing any services.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized the impact of such actions, stating, “Stealing from that fund, as the defendants allegedly did, not only takes advantage of taxpayers, but also victimizes the injured who need help.” Thomas J. Eicher, Executive Director of OPIA, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This indictment should serve as a warning to anyone who would abuse public resources for personal gain at the expense of community members in need.”

The defendants face charges including conspiracy, theft by deception, misapplication of government property, tampering with public records, falsifying or tampering with records, and official misconduct. Some defendants were also charged with misconduct by a corporate official for allegedly using their companies to commit criminal acts.

It is important to note that these charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Brian Kenney and Max Lesser from the Corruption Bureau of OPIA, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

The alleged actions of the defendants have raised concerns about the misuse of public funds and the exploitation of programs designed to support individuals in need. The legal proceedings will determine the accountability of the accused parties in this case of financial exploitation within the TBI Fund.