August 30, 2010
Office of The Attorney General
– Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
– Stephen J. Taylor, Director
Media Inquiries-
Peter Aseltine
609-292-4791
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925
Husband Charged with Participating with Wife in $167,000 Theft from Student Government Organization at New Jersey City University
TRENTON – Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced a new arrest today in the case of a suspended office manager at New Jersey City University who was charged Friday with stealing over $167,000 in student funds. The State Police today arrested the woman’s husband and charged him with participating in the theft of funds.
According Director Taylor, Alex Moody, 51, of Jersey City, was arrested this morning at his home and charged by complaint with second-degree theft by deception. Moody allegedly participated with his wife, Shaunette P. Ruffin-Moody, 48, in the theft of more than $167,000 from the Student Government Organization (SGO). The wife, who was office manager for the SGO, allegedly issued unauthorized checks from the SGO checking account made payable to herself and her husband. She was charged by complaint on Friday with second-degree theft by deception.
The SGO is a non-profit organization funded by student activity fees charged to students. About $600,000 is deposited into the SGO checking account annually. Ruffin-Moody’s salary and benefits are paid from the funds, but most of the budget is used to fund student athletics and other student activities. As part of her duties, Ruffin-Moody filled out payment vouchers to have SGO checks issued. The vouchers and checks had to be validated and signed by other university officials.
It is alleged that between July 2008 and December 2009, Ruffin-Moody issued 80 unauthorized checks totaling $167,972.23 in the names of herself and her husband. Specifically, she allegedly had 73 checks totaling $151,962.23 issued in her husband’s name, and seven checks totaling $16,010 issued in her name. On each check, she allegedly forged the signature of the associate dean who is required to sign SGO checks. The unauthorized checks were discovered in July 2010, after several SGO checks bounced and Ruffin-Moody reported that the SGO had exceeded its budget. She was suspended without pay from her job as office manager after the suspicious checks were identified.
The charge is the result of an investigation by Detective Sgt. Geoffrey P. Forker, Detective Mario DiRienzo and the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption North Unit. Deputy Attorney General Perry Primavera is handling the case for the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.
The theft charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine. The complaints are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Because the charge is an indictable offense, the case will be presented to a grand jury for potential indictment. Bail was set at $150,000 each for Moody and Ruffin-Moody.
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