NJ cop accused of stealing $75K from PBA now accused of ripping off kids

🔷 NJ officer accused of stealing from police funds faces new charges

🔷 The officer is accused of stealing thousands from a youth football group

🔷 The Wall Township official was previously accused of the theft of $75K

A Wall police sergeant accused of stealing more than $75,000 in police union funds has been hit with additional criminal charges.

James Cadigan is now accused of stealing another $20,000 or so from a youth football group he was in charge of — including several thousand earmarked for charity.

The 41-year-old was charged with second-degree official misconduct, third-degree theft by deception, third-degree theft by unlawful taking and fourth-degree falsifying records.

Cadigan previously faced second-degree theft by unlawful taking, stemming from allegations involving the Wall Township Police Benevolent Association Local No. 234.

🔷 $75K in PBA funds was stolen over four-year span, prosecutor says

Cadigan was arrested in December after investigators found that he had made numerous unauthorized cash withdrawals from multiple PBA bank accounts, starting as far back as 2018, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said.

Read More: Wall, NJ police official accused of stealing $75K from PBA

The initial theft was uncovered after last year’s local PBA “Pignic,” an annual summertime barbecue fundraiser which donates proceeds to various charitable organizations.

🔷 Cop accused of using $20K from football group on pool supplies, movie screen, hammock

As the investigation continued, police said that Cadigan had also used the account of the Wall American Youth Football nonprofit organization as an illegal personal backyard expense fund.

Cadigan, who was the organization's president, has been accused of using a debit card for the AYF to rack up $20,000 in purchases for himself.

Those items included pool pumps and chemicals, a quilted hammock, a karaoke machine, an inflatable movie screen, grill tools and accessories, a pressure washer, backyard and holiday decorations and accessories for tapping and serving draft beer.

He also used the nonprofit’s funds to buy himself a weight sled trainer, a boot warmer and a truck hitch, according to the prosecutor.

"The Wall Knights AYF & AYC Organization is shocked and saddened by this clear betrayal of trust, particularly since it involves a sworn law enforcement officer who lives and serves in our community," the football organization said in a statement on its Facebook page on Friday.

"We fully intend to seek all restitution authorized under State law."

🔷 Sgt. accused of fake raffle license, pocketing $3K in breast cancer charity donations

For the 2022 PBA “Pignic,” Cadigan did not apply for a required license for a 50/50 raffle but instead made up the license number for raffle tickets, Santiago said.

He has also been accused of keeping about $3,000 in proceeds from a powderpuff football game involving mothers of AYF football players, instead of donating the cash to a breast cancer awareness and prevention charity, as was intended.

Anyone with information on the Cadigan charges or related issues was urged to contact MCPO Detective Brian Hammarstrom at 800-533-7443.

Erin Vogt is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at erin.vogt@townsquaremedia.com

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