JACKSON – A resident of Jackson has been charged with theft by deception for allegedly misappropriating New Jersey High School Rodeo Association funds.
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato announced the arrest of Eugene M. Nieratko, 42. Nieratko is charged with third degree theft by deception for the misappropriation of association finances.
Nieratko’s arrest took place on Aug. 28 when he surrendered to Ocean County Prosecutor’s Economic Crime Unit detectives James Conroy and Stephen T. Shadiack Jr.
According to Coronato, Nieratko was the president of the New Jersey High School Rodeo Association and had accepted money from September 2016 through August 2017 from families that was to be applied to cover the insurance and fees for each rider.
An investigation began when the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office was notified by several of the families that they had suspicions their payments were not actually being applied for the described services.
The investigation alleges Nieratko took the money in the form of cash and checks that he requested be made out to his name. He allegedly kept the cash and cashed the checks at a check cashing facility in Lakehurst.
The investigation and a review of records provided by the families and the National Rodeo Association revealed Nieratko had allegedly taken approximately $32,000 without applying the money to the riders’ insurance or fees, according to the prosecutor.
Nieratko was released pending a future court date.
