A physical education teacher who was charged in connection with a massive sting that took down a criminal organization operating in Asbury Park in 2014 had his teaching certificate revoked last week.
Frederick Ecke, 31, of Toms River, was swept up in "Operation Dead End," a massive bust of Bloods and Crips gang members, a police officer and pawnshop owners that led to indictments of 44 people.
Authorities said Ecke, in his role as the owner and manager of Cash It In pawn shop in Neptune City, sold stolen goods from members of the crime organization on eBay through the pawnshop's account.
Ecke pleaded guilty on Dec. 23, 2015, to receiving stolen property. He was sentenced on April 8, 2016, to two years' probation, fines and 192 hours of community service.
The state Board of Examiners voted on March 3 to revoke Ecke's teacher of physical education certificate of eligibility with advanced standing. The formal written decision was approved on April 6.
"Ecke has demonstrated that he is ill fit to be a role model for students and the Board therefore concludes that the appropriate response to his breach is the revocation of his teaching certificate," Robert R. Higgins, the state Board of Examiners' secretary, wrote in the Order of Revocation.
The letter does not state where Ecke was employed.
Ecke did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
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