A former investigator for the New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) has been indicted by a state grand jury in Trenton. Guilherme H. Jamarino, 47, from Point Pleasant, New Jersey, is accused of exploiting his position to send inappropriate and sexually explicit messages to crime victims seeking support from the VCCO.
The indictment alleges that between December 2019 and July 2022, Jamarino sent such communications to at least six victims. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin stated, "We allege that although this defendant worked for an office that helps crime victims, he instead subjected them to further injustice." He added that Jamarino's actions eroded the trust of these victims during their time of need.
Drew Skinner, Executive Director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), commented on the case: "As alleged, the defendant’s job was to help crime victims, but instead, he used his official position for his own benefit."
The VCCO provides financial assistance to violent crime victims and their families to alleviate economic and emotional burdens. As an investigator with the agency within the Department of Law and Public Safety, Jamarino was responsible for helping vulnerable crime victims obtain financial reimbursement. The investigation found that he misused his access to contact information for sending inappropriate messages.
According to the indictment, Jamarino interspersed discussions about VCCO claims with nude or partially nude photographs of himself and invitations for personal meetings with the victims. He faces seven charges: six counts of official misconduct (2nd degree) and one count of pattern of official misconduct (2nd degree). Each second-degree charge carries a potential sentence of five to ten years in New Jersey state prison and a fine up to $150,000.
Deputy Attorney General Diana Bibb and Assistant Attorney General Michael Grillo are prosecuting under Corruption Bureau Co-Directors Jeff Manis and Eric Gibson's supervision along with OPIA Director Skinner.
Michael P. Koribanics serves as defense counsel for Jamarino.
