Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice have announced the indictment of a Trenton Water Works (TWW) employee, Cesar Lugo, on charges related to water sample collection misconduct. Lugo, 37, from Trenton, faces multiple charges including two counts of official misconduct, theft by deception, violations under the Safe Drinking Water Act, tampering with public records or information, and falsifying records.
Attorney General Platkin emphasized the importance of safe drinking water and accountability among those responsible for its safety. "Everyone has a right to safe drinking water," he stated. "We will continue to actively investigate any allegations of official misconduct."
Theresa Hilton, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), highlighted TWW's role as a public utility serving 225,000 people in Trenton and surrounding areas. She expressed concern over the alleged actions: "It is unconscionable that this employee would allegedly take a paycheck knowing that he was not doing his work."
Shawn M. LaTourette, Commissioner of Environmental Protection, noted the critical nature of accurate water sample collection for public health safety. He reassured that additional sampling data collected during the period in question indicated no immediate public health risk.
The indictment alleges that between October 1 and November 13, 2023, Lugo submitted falsified water testing results and chain of custody forms to TWW and did not perform required collections. It is claimed he submitted timesheets falsely indicating completed duties.
Deputy Attorney General Dom Stockton-Rossini from DCJ’s Environmental Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case. The potential penalties for second-degree charges include five to ten years in prison and fines up to $150,000; third-degree charges carry three to five years in prison with fines up to $15,000; fourth-degree offenses may result in up to 18 months in prison and fines up to $10,000.
The charges remain accusations at this stage; Lugo is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
