Two Accused of Misusing NJ Police Union Credit Cards

Two former high-ranking officials with a New Jersey law enforcement officers union have been accused of improperly using the union's credit cards for personal expenses.

State prosecutors announced Monday that Paul Lucarelli, the former president of the Middlesex County Sheriff's Officers Policemen's Benevolent Union Local 165, and Mark Papi, its former state delegate, were each charged with theft by unlawful taking.

Prosecutors say the expenses the pair charged to the union's cards were not authorized by the PBA members and none were reimbursed by the men.

Lucarelli, a 46-year-old South River resident, served as union president for more than 15 years, The 57-year-old Papi, who lives in Edison, was a state delegate for the PBA for about 20 years,

Neither Lucarelli nor Papi could be reached for comment Monday night.

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