Wildwood mayor Pete Byron resigned on Thursday, six weeks after being sentenced to three years probation for failing to report income to the IRS.
Byron, who has served as mayor since 2020, was re-indicted that same day in August on state charges he fraudulently enrolled in the state’s health benefits program. Those charges are pending.
Deputy Mayor Krista Fitzsimons will take over as mayor.
Byron had previously said he didn’t plan to resign as mayor. He couldn’t immediately be reached by NJ Advance Media on Thursday morning.
“It is with deep sadness — yet great hope — for the continued prosperity of Wildwood, that I resign as mayor of the city of Wildwood,” Byron said in an emailed statement “I have held the honor and pleasure of serving my community as commissioner for the past 12 years.
“Though I may not be at City Hall, I am still available to help with issues and will be happy to continue to assist my hometown of Wildwood in any way possible. For now, I will focus on being the best dad and grandfather to my loving family.”
In the federal case, Byron received three years probation and was ordered to pay a $14,000 fine and more than $7,014 in restitution, according to court documents.
From October 2017 through September 2018, Byron received $40,425 in payments while working as a salesman for a law firm in Gloucester County, but did not report this income on his tax returns, prosecutors said. In all Byron, shorted the IRS more than $7,000 in owed taxes, according to court papers.
In March, he pleaded guilty to two counts of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of fraudulent tax returns. He had faced up to three years in federal prison prior to the sentencing.
The state Office of the Attorney General also announced in early August that a grand jury re-indicted Byron, former Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., and current Wildwood city commissioner Steve Mikulski on charges of official misconduct, theft by unlawful taking, tampering with public records and falsifying or tampering with records.
In June, state Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury, Jr., dismissed a previous indictment against all three Wildwood residents “without prejudice” — allowing the Attorney General’s Office to re-present to a grand jury.
Since 2010, New Jersey has required that elected officials be full-time employees to be enrolled in the state’s health benefits program. A full-time employee is defined as one “whose hours are fixed at 35 or more a week.”
The defense contends that the three Wildwood officials were declared full-time employees by a resolution that the commission adopted in 2011, and were eligible for enrollment in the state health plan.
During Byron’s time in office, he oversaw major refurbishment of the city parks, dog park and Byrne Recreation Center as well as the ongoing Pacific Avenue Redevelopment Project which includes the revitalization of 315 properties spanning 56 blocks, the city said.
Wildwood is also in the process of dredging, capping, and closing a landfill to develop the seven acres on which it sits.
Byron also served as the head of the city’s Department of Public Works, Parks & Public Property. Those departments will now report to city administrator Steve O’Connor, the statement said.
Source : NJ