CFO Of Long Branch Low-Income Housing Accused Of $1.6M Theft

LONG BRANCH, NJ — The former chief financial officer of a low-income apartment building in Long Branch is now charged with stealing more than $1.6 million from the property, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced Thursday.

John O’Donnell, 57, who lives in Scotch Plains (Union County) is charged with second-degree theft, third-degree forgery, and third-degree false uttering.

The building is Washington Manor, on the 300 block of Ocean Boulevard in Long Branch. It houses 100 apartments for seniors and disabled people.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau started quietly investigating O'Donnell in June 2023, after the company that owns Washington Manor noted a $14,000 life-insurance payment was made to O’Donnell.

That payment prompted an internal audit. From there, someone then alerted the county prosecutor to start investigating, as well.

He stole the money over the span of 14 years, said the prosecutor.

The investigation determined that from February 2009 into May 2023, O’Donnell issued approximately 400 unauthorized checks from Washington Manor accounts to a construction firm he owned, totaling in excess of $1.6 million. Many of those checks had the forged signature of a Washington Manor employee.

Prosecutors say O'Donnell used the stolen funds for personal expenses such as mortgage payments. From December 2020 to May 2023, he also used a Washington Manor credit card for unauthorized personal purchases, such as home renovations, pool services and HVAC repair, totaling in excess of $30,000, say prosecutors.

O'Donnell no longer works for Washington Manor.

His first appearance in court will be Feb. 20.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Larry Nelsen, Director of the MCPO Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau.