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Truck That Transported Piece For Barnegat 9/11 Memorial Implicated In Alleged Scam

Manahawkin and Tinton Falls men sued for their part in alleged scheme

 

The same truck that transported a tower piece recovered from the wreckage of Ground Zero to Barnegat last year — to serve as a memorial for those who died — is now at the center of an alleged scam.

Thomas J. Scalgione, 40, of Manahawkin and Mark Anthony Niemczyk, 66, of Tinton Falls were accused this week of promoting a bogus 9/11 victims' charity by driving around in a pickup truck painted with the names of first responders who perished.

Through the efforts of resident and Patch blogger Charles Giles and others, the 9-foot steel beam was gifted to the Barnegat Township School district in time for the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

"it is definitely the same truck that was used to bring the piece of steel," said Bill Cox, transportation coordinator for the Barnegat Township School District. "Being a small community, we know the same cast of characters."

The Attorney General's Office has sued Scalgione — who has had a long history of theft and sex offense convictions — and Niemczyk for allegedly operating an unregistered charity. Their first court appearance is scheduled for the Ocean County Courthouse at 10 a.m. Friday.

Giles told Patch he contacted Scalgione to book the truck to pick up a piece of steel from one of the towers and bring it to Barnegat High School for a memorial held there last year, but declined to elaborate further.

Both Scalgione and Niemczyk drove the red pickup truck, which bore the names of first responders who perished in the attacks, but the state has since impounded it. According to Patch and MSN file photos of the truck, it bore different logos and license plates at different time periods.

Giles said he was "appalled" and shared the outrage expressed by many in the Patch comments section about the apparently bogus collections. He said he is not being investigated with respect to the bogus collections.

"I expected [the lawsuit] was coming, as per the investigation, and my testimony. I have testified with regard to my knowledge of the truck, although I cannot give information as to what I have testified per the inspector," Giles said.

The attorney general's office has requested that the court order the immediate impounding of Niemczyk's pickup truck to stop soliciting donations from the public, Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said in a release.

“The alleged actions of the defendants is an affront to everyone who remembers the fallen and to the family members who continue to endure pain from the lives that were lost among the first responders at the World Trade Center,” Attorney General Chiesa said. “It is beyond comprehension that anyone would try to profit themselves under the guise of collecting donations to help the surviving family members of the fallen emergency responders.”

Niemczyk allegedly lied to the people he solicited by telling them he was a former Navy SEAL and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and at one time had a license plate on the pickup truck reading “N-Seal”. Niemczyk pleaded guilty in 1989 to committing welfare fraud.

Scalgione allegedly claims to handle public relations for truck appearances and has several criminal convictions, including theft, forgery, fraudulent use of credit cards and possession of an emergency communications receiver during the commission of a crime, according to the release.

Niemczyk and Scalgione also allegedly have been selling T-shirts with New York City Police and Fire Department and Port Authority Police Department logos at 9/11 memorial events since mid-2011 to raise funds for their charity.

The release states that both were not authorized to use the logos and that they allegedly also had a collection jug for cash donations when they attended events with the truck.

Cox, a former New York City police officer, has raised questions about the operation since seeing Niemczyk’s pickup truck at a World Trade Center memorial service in Barnegat.

"You realize when something is not right," said Cox, of Barnegat. "I met them, and I've been at several of the events they were at. What I saw raised hairs on my neck."

Related Topics: Manahawkin news

Mike Howard

3:13 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Well finally some of these phonies are being uncovered. Gee, I wonder who's next? Like the old Abbott and Costello act, "Slowly they turn, step by step"...... All you phonies, and you know who you are,keep looking over your shoulders. The gravy train is about to end. And before I forget, thank you Mr. Cox.

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Bill Cox

8:35 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

No need for thanks Mr. Howard. My wife recently posted a quote from Albert Einstein on her FB page that basically says " The world is a dangerous place, not because of people who are evil, but rather because of people who do nothing about it,"

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Alex W

9:06 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

May God Bless you and your wife Mr Cox

God Bless America

4:47 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

How low can these people go. God Bless!

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Vera Fozman

6:13 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

How many other towns may have been duped?

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Denise S

10:30 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

@Vera-Brick residents including myself have donated $ and purchased things such as shirts and flags from them in hopes the money would go to the 9/11 families as we were told so. Very sad.I wouldnt be surprised if there were more. They have been known to drive around NYC with the truck as well.

wendy

6:58 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MAD! I was told the $ for the T-shirts went to the Familys.....I was taken back and amazed by his truck thinking this was all on the up and up! not only did I buy t.shirts but I sold a BUNCH for him for I thought again the $ went to the cause...you son of a BITCH! FURIOUS I AM!!!!

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2much2say

7:26 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

I too would be pissed.
So wrong!!

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F.Lee

8:44 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

When will the next meeting of the Barnegat 9/11 Heroes Meeting be? Who will be the guest speaker?

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Barnegat tax Payer

9:36 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

who are the 9/11 Heroes & what meetings?

i don't get it??

8:51 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Again...Kharma...what comes around in a fancy red pickup truck...so sorry to hear of this. There are so many legit charities out there, but when people hear about this kind of stuff the truly begin to second guess what they will do with THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY...I hope some justice can be served...

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Phil Checchia

8:59 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

This scandal has just begun.......

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Fedup

9:05 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Probably got the idea from Mike Ritacco.

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F.Lee

9:12 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

That fellow sure is crying alot in the picture. Was this taken this morning?

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JR

8:25 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

F. LEE - The guy in the pic is not involved he was NYC EMS on 9-11-01

justine

11:57 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

There is evil ...and there is beyond evil. This is beyond.

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make my day

7:43 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Justine...i couldn't have said it any better! How sad!

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JusticeGal

7:47 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

BURN IN HELL AND ROT IN JAIL YOU WORTHLESS SCUM!!!!

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1stcav

8:37 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

One FAKE seal that should sleep with the fishes , call.. "Joey Bag of Donuts"..Bada Bing !

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Mark

9:33 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Impounded? really? did someone get proof? WHY I ASK? Im looking at the truck right now! Its in the service lot of Sansone Ford in Ocean NJ. Dealership said it was dropped there weeks ago for service but never attended to because the douche owes them money. SO GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT! Someone NEEDS to come impound this P.O.S

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ed crowley

11:14 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The article states that they are asking for a order of impound from the court. There is no mention that the truck has been impounded.

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Michael

1:03 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Ed, 3 paragraphs before the "order of impound" sentence is one that says, "...but the state has since impounded it".

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Jennifer Woods

1:27 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Do you think the guy works at Sansone? I work not too far from Sansone & I see this truck in the parking lot of TD Bank on Asbury Avenue all the time. Sickens me. I actually looked for the name of a loved one who was in the FDNY on 9/11. I always wondered who this person was & why he had the FDNY/NYPD/PAPD names listed on his truck. So sick. I am going to drive by there after work.

Mark

9:35 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

So again the "state" hasnt impounded ANYTHING. Come see for yourself, Sansone Ford Rt 35 Ocean NJ 07712

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Concetta Giovanni

3:53 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

I totally believe it is sitting at Sansone. That low life never paid for anything, had a scam for everything. Yet he would boast whenever you saw him about how much he won in AC. Lying cheating thief!!!! Talk to any area small business owner. He took advantage of all of them.

F.Lee

10:52 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Well let me explain... First the fellow crying in the picture has said he worked for Citywide Ambulance on 9/11/01. That is a private ambulance company. Second. On 8/9/11 the Barnegat High School received a piece of 9/11 steel. The infamous 9/11 truck delivered the steel to the High School. In an article in the Patch dated 10/5/11 it references some in the 9/11 community were disatisfied with the schools handling of the first piece of steel and a second piece was acquired. In the comments a few persons questioned who exactly in the 9/11 " community" complained. If the guy in the picture crying like Tom Hanks after he lost his volleyball in that movie, was so emotionally affected by the presence of a piece of steel, why the hell was the second piece allowed to be stored in some garage like a chain saw, hidden since October of last year. This circus has gotten really old, people have been really hurt, and its time for the Clown Car to load up and leave town.

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Mike Howard

5:10 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The High School has a very nice area setup for the first piece of 9/11 steel that was brought to town. Some People in town weren't happy with that because they thought they didn't get enough credit or attention. So that's why we have another piece of steel. It's all about eggos. Now the Town is spending our tax money to get one up on the school system. I would think one memorial was enough but some people get big heads and need the attention.

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Rick

2:07 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Concerned,
Which EMT story has been verified? The story seems to change with the venue.

michael baker

11:01 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I saw these guys at the Lakewood Blueclaws annual Firemen's night in June of 2011, and as soon as I struck up a conversation something seemed fishy, they were kind of evasive and vague about where the donations were going to go, etc....I'm glad someone looked further into this than I did, and I hope they get what they deserve.

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ed crowley

11:12 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The problem is no crime was committed so no jail time. The State and Federal goverment can see if they paid their taxes on the stolen donations.

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Rick

10:24 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Fraud isn't a crime?
If so, why is Bernie Madoff in jail?

Tom C

11:32 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

That steel is not from WTC either. So dont get all sobby about it. All the steel that survived, was shipped to china and is now in your $10 walmart blu ray player

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Rick

2:08 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

And you know this for a fact? HOW?

The Liberal Crusader

12:08 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I'm glad these idiots were rounded up. I've seen that truck around the area and was always angered by the hate speech on the back. It disgusted me, and now I know I should have been even more disgusted.

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CShorShell

12:58 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I couldn't be happier to hear that the truck has been impounded and charges filed against these two men. Two years ago these two men were collecting donations and selling sweatshirts and t-shirts at the Firemen's Convention in Wildwood. My husband and I both bought shirts b/c it was SUPPOSEDLY to be a donation for the victims of 9/11. I can get past the money that we gave them to purchase the shirts was only to benefit them. But what I can't get past is that my brother-in-law's brother's name is on the side of that truck! I am truly sickened by the fact that these men are driving around all over the state and even out of state, using the names of the deceased firefighters to make a buck. Given that these men have a long history of this sort of thing, I hope they end up in a jail cell for a very long time and that the money that they stole from people should be donated to the organizations/people it was supposed to be for. After that they can rot in hell for all of eternity.

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CShorShell

1:01 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The family members of those firefighters that died and are listed on that truck should sue those two men for profiteering off of their loved ones.

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Jennifer Woods

1:30 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I would like to scratch a name off that truck as well. I am sickened that someone I cared deeply about it being exploited.

Sugar Sand Beaches

2:16 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

if you ever saw the steell twisted, at the site, you'd not want to again, thats it ,

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Bionic Bill

4:39 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Amazing, nobody on the town "council" research these bozos? Just the tip of the iceburge on corruption!

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Fred M

5:55 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

These guy put a lot of effort into this truck...Effort alone made it easy to believe these guys were legit....UNBELIEVABLE

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Mike Howard

7:58 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Now we have another Concerned citizen yelling that no Taxpayer money is being used. Last time I heard that was at a Township meeting when one of the Committee members said that about the Lower Shore Fields.$600,000.00 later, he was proven wrong. I see no reason people can't go up this mentioned "HILL" at the High School to visit the 9/11 Memorial. This town remembers 9/11 every day with no need for a second memorial at Taxpayers cost. I have no problem going up the HILL to visit the Memorial at the High School. It's good excise for both the body and mind. Again, Mr. Cox, what ever you did before you came to Barnegat, thank you for your help in uncovering these people that would steel, oops, steal in the name of 9/11

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Rick

6:14 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Mike, I agree with the idea that ONE monument in town to 9/11 should be sufficient, but it is on the High School grounds which are totally fenced in and closed to the public much of the time.
If you just drive by it is obscured by the flag poles behind it. Couldn't it have been placed at an angle so it wouldn't look like part of the flagpole for the American flag?

Denise S

10:24 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Wow! I also purchased shirts for that charity, My husbnd is a WTC survivor and Most o us that purchased shirts or flags signed a book they had. I want to know if this is all bogus what are they going to do with my name? THey showed pics with the Governer,Pics and letters and signatures of congressman and so on..We all feel duped! Not acceptable at all!
I have had choice words with the Mark fellow and he is not all ther and very disrespecful toward women,It has been my experience that a man or woman with a military past is usually repectable when it comes to women as well as someone that claims to be running a charity such as this. Very sad indeed. Hope its not true because if it is all those families whom have loved ones names on the truck stand to be reimbursed.

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Concetta Giovanni

3:50 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

I totally agree with you, he is a disgusting excuse for a man or for a human being.

T.j. Gilmartin

1:41 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

But where is Super-Hero Charlie ?

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Rick

2:56 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Baosteel bought 50,000 tons of scrap steel from the twin towers. That's not ALL of the 300,000 tons of WTC steel.

Some of the steel from the WTC was used to create the bow of the USS New York (LPD-21).

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Rick

2:58 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

BTW, T-Mobile wants to think you for the free plug

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Rick

6:17 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

OOOOPs, Thank you, not think you!

Concetta Giovanni

3:48 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

Mark is a very disrespectful disgusting lying cheating old man that is extremely disrespectful to women. Maybe that is why his cohort is a sex offender, i am thinking the only reason Mark has not been arrested as a sex offender is because he hasn't gotten caught. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE HIM ROTTING IN JAIL .

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F.Lee

4:21 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

This thread is compelling. I think this is evidence by the nature of the posts how hurt some many people are by the 9/11 circus that has been in our community for years now. Those in the decision making postions in this area have to ask themselves why they allowed themselves to participate in this stupidity. Although they may not answer those questions because of politics, they will forever be on their minds. They allowed the worst day in American History, a day that hurts today as strong as it did that day, to become a side show for a some... with obvious credibility issues, and failed to take into account the feelings of those familes that were directly affected by this day and the residents of our area who actually responded to the World Trade Center to help. This insenstive disregard for peoples feelings is something that does not heal rapidly. I take such pride in what Mr. Cox and others who spoke for those with no voice have done. To those that continue to defend this circus, please stop. One Memorial is fine, respectful and beautiful. If this second memorial is that important than why was it allowed to remain in a garage somewhere, with chain saws, lawnmowers and Holiday Decorations since October. That is disgusting, inexcusable, insensitve and indicative of the true feelings of those involved in this "project."

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JOHNNY Done it

10:21 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

First only the port authority would know easily if the steel is real..Each piece has an ID number.....How does he get to ride around with an illegal light bar? Any FDNY shirts or legally sanctioned items has an official tag .The last items he had didn't nor did I purchase anything from Him.. Nice to know these losers are out here to take avantage of the public .He has some record also , I am surprised he didnt get caught earlier...

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Concetta Giovanni

10:36 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

I am also surprised that it took so long. I am praying that they end up in jail along with their little crew that drove the "911 maintenance van". This is a total disgrace!!!!

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