Passaic County Board of Social Services Employee Pleads Guilty

NEWS RELEASE
Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes
Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office
401 Grand Street
Paterson, NJ 07505
(973) 881-4800
PASSAIC COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEE
PLEADS GUILTY
PATERSON, NEW JERSEY:
April 29, 2015
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced that on Wednesday, April 29,
2015, former Passaic County Board of Social Services employee Jecemia Echevarria, age 43,
pleaded Guilty to one (1) count of Conspiracy to Commit Official Misconduct, a Second Degree
crime and one (1) count of Theft by Deception, a Second Degree crime. The charge of
Conspiracy to Commit Official Misconduct in the Second Degree carries a maximum penalty of
up to ten (10) years in State Prison. The charge of Theft by Deception in the Second Degree also
carries a maximum penalty of up to ten (10) years in State Prison
In return for her guilty plea the State has agreed to dismiss the remaining charges against
her and is recommending that Echevarria be sentenced to a term of five (5) years in New Jersey
State prison with three (3) years which must be served before being eligible for parole. Further,
Echevarria must forfeit her public employment and pay restitution of $75,000 to the Passaic
County Board of Social Services, which will include providing a check in the amount of $25,000
at the time of sentence, along with forgoing any attempt to obtain $8967 in salary owed. Finally,
the plea permits the Passaic County Board of Social Services to pursue additional civil action
against her for further restitution.
Her co-defendant James Hayer, age 33, pleaded Guilty to one (1) count of Theft by
Deception, a Second Degree crime. As indicated previously, the charge of Theft by Deception in
the Second Degree carries a maximum penalty of up to ten (10) years in State Prison.
In return for his guilty plea the State has agreed to dismiss the remaining charges against
him and is recommending that Hayer be sentenced to a term of four (4) years in New Jersey State
prison.
The facts of the case are as follows. On or about April 2008 through December 2011 in
the City of Paterson, while working for the Passaic County Board of Social Services as a case
social worker, Ms. Jecemia Echevarria committed fraud by deception by obtaining funds that
were intended for individuals receiving assistance. The funds included Temporary Rental
Assistance (TRA) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). These programs and
others are provided to the needy, to assist with obtaining food, moving assistance, clothing and
furniture.
It further alleged that her boyfriend James Hayer was an accomplice. Specifically, he
through his moving company unlawfully billed and accepted payment for moving assistance that
was never provided.
Echevarria and Hayer are scheduled to be sentenced in Superior Court of the County of
Passaic on June 23, 2015 at 9 a.m. before the Honorable Bruno Mongiardo, Judge of the
Criminal Division of the Superior Court.
For further information please contact Chief Assistant Prosecutor Paul De Groot at (973)
837-7763 or [email protected].
James Hayer
Jecemia Echevarria