Mercer Times

TRENTON — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced criminal charges against two members of the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) Board of Commissioners. The charges stem from allegations that they colluded to block payments to an engineering firm as political retaliation related to a feud between a South Jersey Democratic Party leader and a Mercer County Commissioner.

The Vice Chairman of the SJTA Board, Christopher Milam, 45, of Sewell, New Jersey, and Board Commissioner Bryan Bush, 52, also of Sewell, have been charged with official misconduct (2nd degree), conspiracy to commit official misconduct (2nd degree), and perjury (3rd degree).

An ongoing investigation by the OPIA Corruption Bureau determined that Milam and Bush unlawfully conspired to prevent payment of invoices submitted by a civil engineering firm for political purposes. This action effectively halted compensation for work already completed for the authority.

It is alleged that Milam and Bush cast votes during three SJTA Board meetings in 2023 to prevent legitimate payments due to the engineering firm. According to allegations, the defendants knew they did not have a legitimate basis for their votes.

“As this investigation continues, today we are sending a clear message: No matter how connected or powerful you are, if there is evidence suggesting that you have used your position and taxpayer dollars for political retribution or gain, we will hold you accountable,” said Attorney General Platkin. “And if you lie to a grand jury, as alleged here, to cover up your conduct, you will answer for that too.”

“The evidence revealed that these defendants misused the power they held as members of the SJTA Board to exact revenge on this particular firm and one of its staff members,” said Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA. “Their subsequent attempts to offer seemingly legitimate but allegedly fictional reasons for voting against the payments represent a further violation of public trust.”

The investigation found that Milam’s and Bush’s votes opposing approval prevented the Board from reaching the five votes needed for approval. Consequently, during those three months in 2023, the firm's invoices remained unpaid.

According to the investigation, prior to their votes on February 8, 2023, Milam sent a text message to Bush stating: “They cut South Jersey in Mercer County so now we vote no.” Evidence indicated that withholding payment was retaliatory against a Mercer County Commissioner who defied instructions from a South Jersey Democratic Party leader.

The ongoing investigation also revealed perjury charges; it determined that Milam and Bush gave false testimony under oath before the state grand jury in March 2024. They falsely claimed various issues with the engineering firm as reasons for their votes which were not raised until after they began voting no.

Anyone with information about these offenses is urged to contact OPIA at 1-844-OPIA-TIP (1-844-674-2847) or use the OPIA Report Corruption Form online.

Second-degree charges carry sentences of five to ten years in state prison and fines up to $150,000. Second-degree official misconduct requires a five-year mandatory minimum term without parole eligibility. Third-degree charges can result in sentences of three to five years in prison and fines up to $15,000.

The charges are accusations; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Deputy Attorneys General Michael Grillo and Amanda Nini are prosecuting under supervision from OPIA Corruption Bureau Deputy Chief Andrew Wellbrock, Corruption Bureau Chief Jeffrey J. Manis, and OPIA Executive Director Skinner.

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