Atlantic County, NJ, Employee Is Charged With Official Misconduct

The Atlantic County, New Jersey, Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that an Atlantic County government employee has been charged with official misconduct.

Joseph L. Ridley, 47 years old from Mays Landing, New Jersey, was charged with the following criminal offenses:

• Second-Degree Official Misconduct.
• Second-Degree Pattern of Official Misconduct.
• Third-Degree Theft by Unlawfully Taking.
• Third-Degree Conspiracy to Commit Theft.

Ridley is a County supervisor in the Roads and Bridges Department of Atlantic County government.

Three others Have Been Charged

• Zakar Ridley, 26 years old, from Mays Landing, New Jersey, has been charged with: Disorderly Persons Theft by Unlawful Taking.
• Jason Meredith, 34 years old, from Absecon, New Jersey has been charged with: Disorderly Persons Theft by Unlawful Taking.
• Corey Smith, 27 years old, from Pleasantville, New Jersey, has been charged with: Disorderly Persons Theft by Unlawful Taking.

Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Update

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the following:

On May 27, 2025, Atlantic County Fleet Management authorities observed a large box truck being fueled at the county owned fueling station in Northfield, NJ. When approached by staff, the vehicle operators drove away. An investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office's Professional Standards and Accountability Unit followed. The investigation determined a diesel bypass code used in the computer system authorized the fueling. It was uncovered that Ridley provided this code to employees of his business: Z5 Logistics LLC.

June 2, 2025 Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Update

Detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office caught employees of Z5 Logistics LLC in the act as they were fueling the business trucks at the Atlantic County fuel site without proper authorization.

An Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Investigation led to the arrest of the three employees and Ridley.

This investigation is ongoing to determine the total amount of fuel stolen.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office's Professional Standards and Accountability Unit is handling the investigation.

SOURCE: Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.