New Jersey school custodian gets jail term for contaminating food with bodily fluids, cleaner

BRIDGETON, N.J. — Giovanni Impellizzeri, a 27-year-old former custodian from Vineland, New Jersey, has been sentenced to eight years in state prison for contaminating food intended for children and staff at the Upper Deerfield Township School District. His actions included adding bodily fluids and cleaning products to the food, as well as placing cooking utensils on his genitals. Impellizzeri expressed remorse for his behavior, stating that there were no excuses for his actions.

The misconduct came to light in 2023 when authorities discovered videos that Impellizzeri had recorded, in which he filmed himself engaging in the disturbing acts and subsequently shared them online. This led to an investigation by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

Health officials were notified of the allegations shortly after the videos surfaced; they assessed that the bodily fluids used in the contamination were unlikely to pose significant health risks, and no related illnesses have been reported. However, the nature of his actions raised serious concerns about safety and hygiene.

In January, Impellizzeri pleaded guilty to charges of official misconduct and an unrelated charge of possessing child sexual abuse material. The latter was uncovered during the investigation into his video recordings.

This case has attracted significant public attention due to its alarming nature, highlighting the potential threats to safety that can occur in school environments.