Written by A New Jersey police lieutenant, Kevin T. Matthew, has been indicted on 50 criminal counts for allegedly stealing substantial amounts of narcotics from an evidence room and making approximately $600,000 in suspicious bank deposits. The indictment, announced by the state attorney general’s office, accuses Matthew of removing cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office evidence vault between January 2019 and November 2023, with the intent to distribute these substances. ​morristownminute.town.news+2nypost.com+2nj1015.com+2
Matthew, 48, of Cedar Grove, has been suspended from his position since December 2023 following his arrest. Investigators allege that he accessed law enforcement databases to identify drug cases and then withdrew the corresponding evidence without authorization. Upon returning the substances, discrepancies in weight, composition, and packaging were noted, potentially compromising ongoing criminal prosecutions. ​morristownminute.town.news+2nj1015.com+2nypost.com+2morristownminute.town.news+1nj1015.com+1
In addition to the drug-related charges, Matthew is accused of making multiple cash deposits totaling around $600,000 into various bank accounts he controlled. These deposits were reportedly structured in amounts below $10,000 to evade federal reporting requirements and were not reported as income on his tax returns for 2022 and 2023, leading to additional charges of tax fraud. ​nj1015.comnypost.com+2morristownminute.town.news+2nj1015.com+2
The extensive indictment includes charges such as financial facilitation of criminal activity, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, official misconduct, tampering with public records, and filing fraudulent tax returns. If convicted, Matthew faces significant prison time and substantial fines. ​morristownminute.town.news+2nypost.com+2nj1015.com+2
Matthew’s attorney, Charles Sciarra, maintains his client’s innocence, criticizing the investigation as biased and flawed. He asserts that the case will be vigorously defended in court. ​nypost.com+1nj1015.com+1
## Officer Forum Links:
– [Lieutenant Kevin T. Matthew](https://watchaudits.com/forums/topic/lieutenant-kevin-t-matthew/)
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