FBI Raids South Jersey School Board; Officials Offices In Corruption Probe

It should come as no surprise that the FBI is again executing search warrants in New Jersey looking for corrupt officials. This time, they're in Toms River looking at the Toms River school board and its School Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco. Also searched was the home of Donna Mansfield, who had worked in the district for 11 years.

More than a dozen agents from the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service arrived early this morning at the district office and at the Seaside Park home of superintendent Michael J. Ritacco.

An FBI spokesman, Bryan Travers, confirmed the raids were underway but declined to comment on the nature of the probe. A law enforcement official with knowledge of the probe said it was corruption related. The official declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak about the investigation.

With more than 16,000 students, the Toms River school district is the fourth largest in the state, according to the district Website. A spokeswoman, Tammi Millar, said the district is cooperating with the investigation.

Expect the investigation to center on kickbacks and sweetheart deals that screwed taxpayers out of thousands of dollars.

Ritacco has been in the school system for more than 40 years and apparently pulled down more than $226,500 in salary last year.

That's more than the governor of New Jersey makes ($175,000). Nice work if you can get it.



Toms River voters had approved the $126 million school budget. The district is the 4th largest in the state.