BRICK TOWNSHIP - Longtime Brick Township municipal employee Kim Bogan, 52, daughter of former Mayor Joe Scarpelli, can expect a five-year prison term for her role in an extended ruse that cost the municipal health insurance program more than $940,000.

Kim Bogan (NJ Atty. General's Office)
Kim Bogan (NJ Atty. General's Office)
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In an Ocean County courtroom in Toms River, Bogan pleaded guilty to a second-degree charge of theft by deception, accoring to information from the offices of New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino and Brick Mayor John Ducey, who added that Bogan was terminated from her position in the Building Department. State prosecutors are recommending that she pay restitution to the township amounting to $941,354.77.

Bogan admitted cooperating in the submission of false claims to the township's self-funded health insurance program from January 2011 to April 2017, although Ducey claims that Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, the program administrator, reported fraudulent claims dating to at least 2007, during the mayoralty of Steve Acropolis..

The medical provider involved, identified only as an out-of-state health care practitioner in state information, is identified in Ducey's summary of the matter as the late Dr. Glenn Scarpelli, Bogan's brother, who leaped to his death from a Manhattan building with his wife in July of this year.

She was accused of submitting claims for chiropractic procedures that were never rendered, attributed to herself and to others covered under her policy.

In prepared comments, Ducey said that Township Administrator Joanne Bergin discovered the discrepancies during a reviw of health care claims processed and paid by Horizon.

"We uncovered the theft, notified the Attorney General and fired Kim Bogan. The next step is getting back the stolen money. We will take every legal action available to recoup these funds," Ducey said.

"As a former prosecutor, I am grateful to the Attorney General for bringing its full resources to prosecute this case," Ducey said. "But as mayor, I am angry that a municipal employee stole from our health care fund for so many years, with total disregard for the residents and taxpayers of our town."

At the plea hearing, Bogan was represented by Toms River attorney Steven Secare. Deputy Attorney General Thomas G. Tresansky represented the government.

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