New Jersey Insurance Broker Indicted for Election Fraud

A New Jersey insurance broker already charged in a bribery scheme with a former schools superintendent has been indicted on federal election fraud charges.

Francis Gartland is accused of scheming with another man to recruit straw donors to funnel money into the 2006 Congressional campaign of then-Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas in 2006. South Amboy Housing Authority director Thomas O’Leary also was indicted.

Vas and an aide were convicted last fall of mail fraud and federal election crimes.

Gartland was indicted last year with former Toms River school superintendent Michael Ritacco for allegedly concealing more than $1 million in bribes between 2002 and 2010 in an insurance kickback scheme. He is currently free on $1 million bail.