Former Township Fire Commissioner Charged With $700k Theft

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office today charged a former Kingston fire commissioner with stealing approximately $700,000 from South Brunswick Fire District 3 over a three-year period during his time as treasurer for the district.

Charles Hoens III, 61, is facing charges for one count of theft after a year-long investigation. 

Investigators allege that Hoens wrote checks from the fire district for various amounts between October 2009 and November 2012 before depositing the funds in his personal accounts, totaling $695,759.46, according to the prosecutor's office. 

“Corruption on any level will not be tolerated," said Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey. "In addition to prosecuting those who violate their duty to serve the public, when money is stolen from taxpayers, we will work diligently in our attempts to trace and recover the ill-gotten gains.”

Hoens' bail was set at $50,000.

In addition to the criminal charges, a lawsuit filed by the fire district in Superior Court in New Brunswick last month stated that during Hoens' time as the district’s treasurer, hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments were made without any supporting documents, and that checks were cashed with no endorsement from the person being paid.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Investigator Heck of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-8848.