A Superior Court judge has removed incarcerated Willingboro Councilman Nat Anderson from office, nearly seven months after a federal jury convicted him of participating in a mortgage fraud scheme.
Judge Richard Nocella ruled Tuesday that Anderson automatically forfeited his seat when he was convicted on January 27. Anderson, who refused to resign and continued collecting his municipal salary and pension credits from federal prison, is serving a 366-day sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix.
Nocella said the forfeiture was retroactive to January 27.
Anderson, appearing remotely from prison, did not contest his ouster.
The ruling came after the embattled state Office of Public Integrity and Accountability failed to initiate forfeiture proceedings that should have been automatic following Anderson’s conviction. Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw ultimately picked up the pieces, filing an action on July 30 seeking Anderson’s removal.
State law says an order of forfeiture “shall be deemed to have taken effect” on the date an officeholder is found guilty.
“Forfeiture is mandatory,” Assistant Burlington County Prosecutor Matthew Lynch said in the filing.
Nocella initially scheduled the removal hearing for September 11, after the August 25 deadline for placing the vacancy on this year’s general election ballot. That delay would have denied Willingboro voters the opportunity to choose Anderson’s replacement until November 2027.
The judge later moved the hearing to August 18, allowing the vacancy to be declared in time for a November 3 special election.
The Willingboro Democratic County Committee may now select a candidate for the special election. Republicans may also name a nominee, and independent candidates may submit nominating petitions. The deadline is August 27.
Deputy Willingboro Township Clerk Nikisha Scott told the New Jersey Globe that petitions for independent candidates will be available at her office as soon as she receives a signed copy of the order. She said candidates will need 100 signatures, with a filing deadline at 4 PM on August 20.
Democrats will control the selection of an interim replacement. The municipal Democratic committee has 15 days to submit three nominees to the council, which then has 30 days to make an appointment.
Anderson, 58, has served on the council since 2009 and has been mayor and deputy mayor. Despite his pending federal charges, he won another four-year term in 2025 without opposition.
A federal judge sentenced Anderson in June and ordered him to pay $221,862 in restitution. His projected release date is May 5, 2027. His attorney has said he plans to appeal the conviction.