newjerseynewsroom.com

Stolen gear valued at $19,402

A former employee of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey was sentenced Friday for stealing 407 cell phones and two laptop computers from the university.

Andres Santana, 35, of Newark, was sentenced to one year of probation by state Superior Court Judge Michael A. Petrolle in Newark. He also was ordered to pay restitution of $19,402 to UMDNJ for the stolen equipment and perform 50 hours of community service.

Santana pleaded guilty to third-degree theft on Nov. 16. He forfeited his job at the time of the plea and is permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey.

Under New Jersey law, there is a presumption against jail or prison time if a person is sentenced for a third-degree crime and has no prior criminal record.

Verizon Wireless alerted UMDNJ in January 2010 that several cell phones registered to the university had been located in Brooklyn. UMDNJ initially investigated the case and referred it to the state Division of Criminal Justice as soon as criminal conduct was uncovered.

Santana was a senior technologist at UMDNJ. His responsibilities, among others, included managing the cell phone program for the university. In pleading guilty, Santana admitted that between December 2007 and January 2010, he used his position to have 407 cell phones and two laptop computers shipped to his personal residence on Morris Avenue in Newark.

The items were originally destined for UMDNJ. The state's investigation revealed that Santana provided the cell phones and laptops to another individual, who was reselling the equipment. That individual has not been found. The total value of the cell phones and computers was approximately $19,402.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM