Ill-gotten loot has high cost

Man used city’s cards to buy tools, then sell

A former Fort Lauderdale public works supervisor accused of theft while using city charge cards was sentenced to six months in county jail. Two alleged co-conspirators, including a former utilities worker for the city of Coconut Creek, are also in jail.

Joseph Arena, 57, of Margate, used city charge cards to buy expensive tools that were then sold at pawn shops. The money was used to buy illegally obtained prescription pills, according to court documents.

When he was arrested June 1, Arena faced 27 charges related to theft. He pleaded no contest Wednesday to one count each of dealing in stolen property, false verification of ownership and official misconduct.

In addition to the jail sentence, Arena will serve three years’ probation, prosecutor David Schulson said.

Arena’s attorney, John Hager, could not be reached for comment.

Arena paid back $43,763 that had been stolen from the city of Fort Lauderdale, Schulson said.

Arena did not have an arrest record, Schulson said. His lack of criminal history and the restitution he made were considered by the prosecutor when he formulated the plea offer.

“His family stepped up and fully repaid the city,” Schulson said.

Arena’s city pension could be threatened by the conviction, though he could recover his personal contributions to the plan, Schulson said.

Nick Schiess, plan administrator for the City of Fort Lauderdale general employees retirement system, said Thursday, “There are state forfeiture provisions and if his offenses fall under those, then we’ll proceed with a forfeiture hearing.”

Fort Lauderdale police also investigated Ronald Ralph Newby, 59, and his son Brian Carroll Newby, 24, who live in Coconut Creek.

On nine occasions, the elder Newby offered for sale items he knew or should have known were the property of the city of Fort Lauderdale, his arrest report said.

On Thursday, Ronald Newby pleaded guilty to one count each of dealing in stolen property and false verification of ownership on pawn shop forms. He was sentenced to 30 days in a Broward County jail and three years’ probation.

His lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Kimberly Segal, declined to comment.

Brian Newby was hired Dec. 8 as a utilities worker for the city of Coconut Creek; he was on probation and was terminated June 19, the city said. His attorney was not yet assigned and his case was not yet settled Thursday.

Police accused him of offering stolen items for sale 28 different times, according to a report filed during his June 8 arrest.

Newby remains in a Broward County jail. His bond was set at $82,500 when he was taken into custody on suspicion of 27 counts of dealing in stolen property, 27 counts of false verification of ownership and one count of dealing in stolen property (organizing).

Arena