A politician in New Jersey is accused of stealing more than $914,000 from an 80-year-old businesswoman he considered a close friend.
Police say 50-year-old James Donio, the former president of the independent group Hammonton First, used fake leases, an improper mortgage discharge and unauthorized checks from the woman’s personal and business accounts between 2019 and 2025, reports NJ.com.
The woman, a lifelong Hammonton resident, had reportedly trusted Donio for years.
People close to the victim alerted authorities after spotting unusual activity in her financial records.
Donio was arrested over the weekend, and a pre-indictment conference is set for September 2nd.
He faces five theft counts along with charges for falsifying records and money laundering.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to call Hammonton police at 609-561-4000.
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