Trial Date Set For Ritacco

A federal judge has set an April 9 trial date for  former Toms River's schools superintendent accused of
corruption.

But a decision on whether Michael Ritacco's can be tried separately from his co-defendant has been put on hold.

Ritacco was arrested in the fall of 2010 and charged with bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud.

Authorities say that while serving as Toms River schools superintendent, Ritacco and Maryland insurance broker Francis Gartland concocted a scheme to inflate school insurance charges and kick back part of the money to Ritacco as bribes.

The two are accused of concealing more than $1 million in bribes from insurance brokers and other service providers.

Ritacco has sought to be tried separately from Gartland.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)