Carnell Baskerville Admits Stealing From Paterson, Jersey City Programs

Carnell Baskerville, 51, of Linden, New Jersey, admitted today to stealing more than $176,000 through a dual corruption scheme targeting public and federally funded programs in Paterson and Jersey City. The self-employed contractor pleaded guilty to conspiring with insiders to pocket payments for work he never performed — cash that came straight from taxpayer-backed institutions.

Baskerville pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and theft of federal program funds. He admitted to colluding with ‘Coconspirator 1,’ a former commissioner of the now-dissolved Paterson Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA), to funnel $146,500 in fraudulent payments to his company between December 2014 and May 2015. Despite zero work being done, checks were approved, deposited, and kickbacks paid in cash.

The scheme didn’t stop there. Baskerville also teamed up with Robert E. Mays, the former Executive Director of Jersey City Childhood Development Centers Inc. (JCCDC), a nonprofit serving impoverished and disabled children. In February 2014, Mays issued a $29,675 check for fake kitchen renovations. The two met at a Jersey City check-cashing outlet, cashed the check, and split the proceeds — a cold-blooded theft from vulnerable kids.

JCCDC received over $10,000 annually in federal program benefits, making the fraud a federal offense. Baskerville now faces up to 20 years in prison for the extortion count and 10 years for the theft charge, plus a $250,000 fine on each count. As part of his plea, he must pay full restitution: $176,175.

Mays, already brought to justice, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on June 7, 2016, and was sentenced on July 31, 2017, to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $257,418.20 in restitution. His cooperation may have helped unravel Baskerville’s role, but no such leniency has been granted yet to the contractor.

The FBI, under Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren is prosecuting the case. Baskerville’s defense is being handled by Arthur Abrams, Esq., of Jersey City. Sentencing is set for May 16, 2018 — the day the hammer falls.