NJ-EMS

A former New Jersey State Prison corrections officer who stole $44,700 from a

unit where he also worked as an EMT was sentenced to five years probation last week and must re-pay the money. Corey Caldwell, 38, of Elizabeth pleaded guilty to third degree theft for stealing the money from the Union Emergency Medical Unit in Union Township between February 2008 and August 2009, said Assistant Prosecutor Ann Rubin, who prosecuted the case. Caldwell, who was in charge of calling in all the employees' work hours to the payroll company, told the company he was entitled to unauthorized bonus checks. The theft was discovered when a new administrator took over the payroll company and questioned some of Caldwell's checks. Caldwell claimed at the Feb. 17 sentencing that he stole the money to pay for his addiction to Percocet. Judge Stuart Peim sentenced him to probation with restitution of $44,700 payable to the Union Emergency Medical Unit.