Sayreville Dem Chair Indicted, Accused Of Taking Bribe From Strip Club

SAYREVILLE, NJ — The former chairman of the Sayreville Democratic Party, Thomas Pollando, was indicted Thursday, along with his son and daughter-in-law.

Pollando was first charged with bribery in September of 2022, and his arrest was widely publicized in the media, including this Patch article at the time. This week, he was indicted.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone alleges that Pollando accept several thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for saying he would try to use his political clout to influence an ongoing criminal case. New Jersey Globe reports that this was the XXXV Gentlemen’s Club (Club 35) in Sayreville, which has been under investigation for more than year now for money laundering and prostitution. Club 35 is owned by the Acciardi family, who have all been arrested and — according to their lawyer — are currently trying to negotiate deals with the Middlesex County Prosecutor.

NJ Globe reports that Pollando accepted several thousand dollars in cash from the club owners, in exchange for offering to sway the prosecutor's investigation into the go-go bar.

Read our ongoing coverage of the investigation into Club 35 in Sayreville: Family That Owns Sayreville Strip Club Charged With Money Laundering (June 2022)

NJ Strip Club Was 'Family-Run Prostitution Ring,' Officials Charge (June 2022)

Pollando, 73, his son, David Pollando, 42 and David's wife, Lizmarie Pollando, 29, all of Sayreville, were indicted Thursday on a range of criminal charges.

Pollando was charged with bribery, theft, hindering his own arrest, falsifying public records, official misconduct and more.

His son was charged with conspiracy, witness tampering and retaliation against a witness.

His daughter in law, Lizmarie Pollando, was charged with conspiracy and hindering the apprehension of another. Prosecutor says that in November 2022 David Pollando threatened a witness in Old Bridge. They say Lizmarie alerted her husband to the witness’ location and then lied to police when questioned about the incident.

In an unrelated incident, the prosecutor also says Pollando directed another candidate’s campaign funds for Sayreville Borough Council to pay for his own personal expenditures and he also falsified election records to cover up that payment.

Pollando is a former Sayreville Borough council president, current vice-chairman of the Middlesex County Planning Board and longtime president of the Sayreville Athletic Association, which runs youth sports and Little League teams for kids.

Pollando also holds a seat on the Sayreville Economic & Redevelopment Authority and used to work for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

After he was arrested, he was fired from the Turnpike Authority and he has since stepped down from his public positions.

Initial Patch report on Thomas Pollando: Head Of Sayreville Democratic Party Charged With Bribery (Sept. 2022)