Cranbury Mayor Lisa Knierim waited until three days after the November 3 election to tell residents that the township had lost $26 million in a cyber theft more than five weeks earlier, a disclosure that came only after Democrats had secured another three years of one-party control of the Township Committee.
“One of the most important responsibilities of our Township Committee is to communicate openly and honestly with the community we serve, particularly when faced with difficult circumstances,” Knierim said in a November 6 letter to residents.
The theft occurred on September 28, when approximately $26 million intended to purchase property to satisfy Cranbury’s affordable housing obligations was stolen through a fraudulent wire transfer.
The disclosure came after Democrat Thomas Szczur, Jr., Knierim’s preferred candidate, defeated Republican Carol Haring, 63%-37%, maintaining the Democrats’ 5-0 majority on the Township Committee.
Knierim’s letter did not explain why residents were not informed before the election or whether the Township Committee had considered making the theft public sooner.
According to Knierim, a task force led by the Cranbury Police Department and Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, with assistance from state and federal authorities, has frozen approximately $17.3 million in assets.
That leaves roughly $8.7 million that has not been reported recovered or frozen.
The mayor said Police Chief Giuseppe DeChiara had kept the Township Committee informed throughout the investigation.
“Our responsibility as elected officials are not only to respond to this incident, but also to ensure the continued stability and effective operation of Township government,” Knierim said.
At its November 9 meeting, the Township Committee plans to introduce ordinances creating two new positions, assistant township administrator and assistant chief financial officer, to strengthen financial oversight.
The township also plans to hire accounting firm PKF O’Connor Davies for financial consulting and is exploring potential insurance recoveries.
“We recognize that news of this magnitude will understandably raise questions and concerns among our residents. Those concerns are legitimate, and we take them seriously,” Knierim said.
The criminal investigation remains ongoing, and township officials have not disclosed how the theft occurred or whether any municipal employees were involved.