A former Hudson County Parks Department employee who allegedly collected more than $100,000 in wages and unemployment benefits without actually working, including while traveling in Italy, has been charged with 28 counts of federal wire fraud.
Alfonso Zamarra received approximately $45,327 in county wages and $57,021 in unemployment benefits between 2019 and 2024, according to a criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors.
Zamarra appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge José Almonte in Newark and was released on a $100,000 bond, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Federal investigators allege that Zamarra held a no-show seasonal position during three periods between December 2019 and September 2023, submitting timesheets for work he never performed.
The complaint identifies a high-ranking Hudson County Parks Department official, described as Zamarra’s longtime personal…
This type of fraud targets the supply chain and accounts payable departments of businesses.
- Invoice Manipulation: Criminals intercept a legitimate invoice between a supplier and a client and change the banking details to their own. The client pays the bill thinking they are paying their trusted vendor.
- Kickbacks and Bribery: A vendor secretly pays an employee of the purchasing company to ensure their bid is successful or to overlook inflated pricing.