Charges have been filed against a 47-year-old lieutenant with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey after he allegedly stole drugs from the department’s evidence room.
State officials, led by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, are prosecuting Lieutenant Kevin Matthew for the criminal act.
According to the announcement made by Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, Matthew faces charges including two counts of official misconduct, tampering with public records, structuring financial transactions, possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the OPIA’s Corruption Bureau, which focuses on alleged misconduct by law enforcement and other public officials.
According to court documents, the alleged incidents occurred between October 2022 and November 2023, during Matthew’s tenure as a member of the Special Victims Unit.
It is claimed that he accessed police databases for drug cases, removed narcotics evidence containing fentanyl and cocaine without authorization, and later returned the drugs “in conditions substantially different than when he signed the evidence out.”
Matthew was reportedly observed coming and going from the department’s offices carrying bags large enough to contain the narcotics he had signed out.
To add to the suspicions, a razor blade found in the lieutenant’s office allegedly tested positive for cocaine residue.
Matthew also made a series of cash deposits at various banks in such a way as to avoid transaction reporting requirements.
Prosecutors suspect Matthew was profiting off selling the drugs in question and attempting to hide his tracks.
The attorney general remarked that such actions could have compromised the evidentiary chain of custody and the reliability of items used as evidence in criminal prosecutions.
“As alleged, the defendant’s conduct constitutes a shocking and brazen disregard of the law by a high-ranking officer who was sworn to uphold the law,” Platkin said. “Serving in law enforcement is a position of public trust. If officers illegally break that trust, we will hold them accountable.”
The investigation into Matthew’s conduct is ongoing.
Matthew’s defense counsel, Charles Sciarra, has yet to respond to the charges.
If convicted, Matthew could face severe penalties.
Official misconduct charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Other charges, including tampering with public records, structuring financial transactions and drug possession, could result in three to five years in prison and fines up to $15,000.
The charge of possession of drug paraphernalia is considered a “disorderly persons offense,” with a potential sentence of up to six months and a $1,000 fine.
