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Former Asbury Park Housing Director Indicted

Mark W. Homes

Mark W. Homes

Mark W. Holmes, 54, of Lawrence Township, was indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury on 39 counts of Official Misconduct, 2 counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and one count of Theft by Deception, according to a announcement by Acting Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Holmes is the former Executive Director of the Asbury Park Housing Authority and a former mayor and councilman in Lawrence Township.

He was arrested on Fraud and Theft charges in July of 2013.  He remains free on the $70,000 bail that was set at that time by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia, who was recently elevated to the Appellate Division.

Holmes resigned his job suddenly in June of 2011.  The following month Housing Commissioners asked federal housing officials and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office to investigate financial mismanagement under Holmes’ watch.

An investigation conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that, during his period of employment with the Housing Authority, Holmes stole in excess of $75,000 by diverting state grant funds, collecting reimbursements for unauthorized meals, and double-dipping on per diem payments when traveling.

Holmes was Executive Director of the Asbury Park Housing Authority (APHA) between December 2008 and June 2011. Prior to assuming that position, Holmes was Deputy Director of the city-run organization. Just months before assuming the role as Executive Director, Holmes applied for and received a $99,897 grant award from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This Literacy Skills Training Grant was intended to provide training in computers and other marketable skills for Asbury Park public housing residents.

Between November 2008 and August 2009, with Holmes serving as executive director, the APHA received over $75,000 from the State as part of the Training Grant.  Holmes transferred over $58,000 of the funds to the APHA Community Development Corporation, an organization he created, and, rather than use the money for training purposes, Holmes used the money to fund a $50,000 salary increase for himself without APHA Board approval.

Additionally, Holmes opened up credit cards in the name of the “APHA” and “APHA Community Development Corporation” and used the cards for personal expenses.  He changed the mailing addresses for the bills to go directly to his personal residence and racked up over $30,000 in debt.

While serving as Executive Director for a two and a half year period, Holmes went on more than 30 business trips across the country. Prior to traveling, Holmes received up front per diem payments from the APHA, totaling over $22,000 during his tenure, which were intended to cover meal expenses. Upon his return, even though he had already received these monies, Holmes sought and received duplicate reimbursements from the APHA for meals for which he had already received the up-front per diem payments.  Holmes also used APHA funds for personal expenditures while on these trips, including spa treatments, hotel in-room movies, and gentlemen’s clubs.  On at least three occasions, he used APHA funds to pay for stretch limousine service to transport him and his family to and from the airport.

Holmes also used over $13,000 of APHA funds for unauthorized meal expenses in the Asbury Park and Lawrenceville areas.

If convicted of any of the second degree Official Misconduct charges, Holmes faces up to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison and up to 5 years in a New Jersey state prison if convicted of any of the third degree Official Misconduct charges.  The Official Misconduct charges are also subject to a mandatory period of parole ineligibility, forfeiture of any state pension benefits and a lifetime ban on public employment in New Jersey, as required by law.

If convicted of the charge of Pattern of Official Misconduct, Holmes faces up to 10 years in a state prison.

The Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card charge carries a three to five-year prison sentence, if convicted, and if Holmes is convicted of Theft by Deception, he faces five to 10 years in state prison.

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Posted: December 21st, 2015 | Author: | Filed under: Asbury Park, Monmouth County News, Monmouth County Prosecutor | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments »

2 Comments on “Former Asbury Park Housing Director Indicted”

  1. There needs to be said at 10:28 am on December 22nd, 2015:

    much more scrutiny and accountability of all authorities in NJ! There are far too many semi- autonomous boards, commissions and authorities, here- with,sometimes, no one looking over the shoulders of the mostly political appointees who run them. I would support more people/ inspectors in the State Comptrollers office,that would go over all these fiefdoms’ books, up and down this state, on a regular basis, with severe penalties for those who are both personally greedy and derelict in their duties. It’s our money paying for their salaries, benefits and budgets, people!

  2. Republican in name and actions said at 11:00 am on December 22nd, 2015:

    When ever you hear the words, Authority, commission or board placed on anything that is created by a politican in NJ that should translate to “license for my friends, contributors, family etc to steal.”