Millburn Fire Inspector Enters PTI Program, to Repay $100K

The Millburn fire inspector accused of taking money from his grandmother's bank account and selling her possessions entered pre-trail intervention, authorities announced Monday.

Peter DiCostanzo, 40, of Nutley, was admitted into the pretrial intervention program for two years in State Superior Court in Newark Friday morning, according to Kathy Carter, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The program allows first-time offenders to reduce their charges, and if completed, will erase his criminal record.

As part of the program, DiCostanzo was ordered to pay back $100,000 to his grandmother along with $6,700 to Walter Bauman Jewelers 734 Morris Turnpike in Short Hills and complete 100 hours of community service, according to Carter.

The charges against his wife, Angela DiCostanzo, 35, also of Nutley, were dropped, Carter said.  

According to authorities, DiCostanzo was given power of attorney over his grandmother's finances after his grandfather died in 2010. DiCostanzo then illegally withdrew $150,000 from his grandmother's bank account and sold more than $15,000 worth of her jewelry.

The pair was indicted on May 15 by an Essex County Grand Jury on 18 counts of theft, forgery and misapplication of entrusted funds using power of attorney.

He and his wife pleaded not guilty to the charges in early June, according to NJ.com. Peter DiCostanzo's attorney, Vincent Scoca, said his client has done nothing illegal.