Ex-Mayor Sentenced for Abusing Municipal Resources and Falsifying Documents

Defendant forfeits office, is barred from future public employment, and must pay a $15,000 fine.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced that former Clark Township Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso, 64, has been sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine after pleading guilty to charges of conspiring to commit official misconduct and forgery. In addition to forfeiting his mayoral position, Bonaccorso is permanently banned from holding any future public office or employment in New Jersey.

“The former mayor misused taxpayer-funded resources in Clark to benefit and enrich himself at residents’ expense,” said Attorney General Platkin. “This successful prosecution by OPIA’s Corruption Bureau ensures he will be unable to ever again abuse his authority. We will continue to hold accountable anyone who abuses the public trust no matter how powerful they may be.”

Guilty Plea and Sentencing

On January 10, 2025, Bonaccorso pleaded guilty to a two-count accusation charging him with third-degree conspiracy to commit official misconduct and fourth-degree forgery. Assignment Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh handed down the sentence on February 7, 2025, in Union County Superior Court—mirroring the terms of a plea agreement with the State. Among other restrictions:

• Bonaccorso and his landscaping/underground storage tank company, Bonaccorso & Son LLC, are barred for five years from bidding on or entering into any public contracts or doing business with New Jersey or its subdivisions.
• For three years, they are also prohibited from performing or contracting for any storage tank removals—commercial or residential.

Abusing Municipal Resources

Prosecutors say that while serving as mayor, Bonaccorso improperly operated his oil-tank removal and landscaping business from Clark Township’s municipal office. Evidence showed he used township equipment (computers, fax machines) and on-duty municipal employees to run the private venture—an action found in violation of laws governing official misconduct and fiduciary duty.

“Today’s sentence comes after former mayor Bonaccorso pleaded guilty to two serious crimes related to his abuse of office,” said Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA. “The career prosecutors in our office are committed to ensuring justice is done and that no one is above the law.”

Forged Permits and Unlicensed Work

The investigation further revealed that Bonaccorso and Bonaccorso & Son falsified permit applications to multiple municipalities by using a licensed engineer’s name and credentials without proper supervision or site inspections. The permit applications misrepresented that the engineer oversaw oil tank removal projects to comply with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) rules. In reality, the engineer played no active role. Bonaccorso’s company also lacked the required underground storage tank removal certification.

Between 2017 and 2023, Bonaccorso's misrepresentations led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent tank-removal jobs. Investigators found that he even arranged for the engineer to obtain a storage tank license and insurance, covering the cost himself as part of the scheme.

Investigation and Outcome

OPIA’s Corruption Bureau Co-Director Jeffrey J. Manis and Deputy Chief Frank L. Valdinoto prosecuted the case under the supervision of OPIA Executive Director Skinner. Attorney General Platkin recognized the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Taxation, Office of Criminal Investigation, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for assisting the inquiry.

By accepting the plea deal:

• Bonaccorso surrendered his mayoral post and remains permanently barred from public office.
• He must also divest from any future public contracts and cannot legally oversee or profit from underground storage tank removals.

This sentence underscores the State’s commitment to rooting out official misconduct and ensuring public officials uphold transparency and integrity in their service. Residents who suspect wrongdoing by a public official are urged to contact the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability or the Attorney General’s Corruption Tipline.