A former Morris County Freeholder has pleaded guilty to a bribery-related charge after admitting to accepting cash in exchange for steering public contracts. John Cesaro, 53, of Parsippany, entered his plea on November 17, 2025, before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Peter J. Tober in Somerset County.
Cesaro admitted to conspiracy to commit bribery in official and political matters, a third-degree offense. The charges stem from an incident where Cesaro accepted $7,700 in cash from a cooperating witness between April and May 2018. In return, he agreed to use his influence as a county official to direct government legal work to the law firm of the witness, who is a tax attorney.
According to the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), the State will seek a five-year prison sentence at Cesaro’s sentencing hearing scheduled for January 16, 2026. As part of the plea agreement, Cesaro must forfeit $7,700 obtained through the scheme and pay an additional public corruption profiteering penalty of about $23,000. He will also be permanently barred from holding public office or employment and is subject to a five-year ban on conducting business with the State or its subdivisions.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin commented on the case: “The public’s faith in government is shaken when elected officials trade favors or preferential treatment for illicit payments,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Government service is about serving the public, not about getting unlawful perks.”
Eric L. Gibson, Executive Director of OPIA added: “This guilty plea shows that public servants who abuse their positions to enrich themselves at the expense of New Jersey residents will face justice.”
The prosecution was led by Assistant Attorneys General Michael Grillo and Andrew Wellbrock from OPIA with DAG Adam Gerken under supervision by Bureau Director Jeffrey J. Manis and Executive Director Gibson.
Cesaro was represented by Robert Dunn of Morristown.
