NJ child welfare worker got paid off for insider info, state says

A tech employee from the state Department of Children and Families, Susaida Nazario, 44, has been charged for accepting money and property in exchange for confidential information regarding two separate cases. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the charges, which stem from actions in March 2021, when Nazario offered to provide sensitive files related to her role in the Division of Child Protection & Permanency.

Nazario allegedly misrepresented herself as a caseworker and claimed she could facilitate a connection with a colleague who could offer further details. To reinforce her deception, she created fictitious identities for these supposed colleagues, complete with distinct phone numbers, through which she communicated with those seeking the information.

In a further twist, Nazario extended the same illicit offer to a second individual involved in a DCF case in which she had a romantic interest. She reportedly accepted both cash and property as compensation for providing confidential files and promised a favorable outcome for the case in question.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized that this situation highlights the necessity for accountability among public employees who breach their responsibilities and the trust the public places in them. He underscored the seriousness of Nazario's actions, describing them as a misuse of her position and access to sensitive records for personal monetary gain.

As a result of her actions, Nazario faces multiple charges, including acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior, theft by deception, and two counts of second-degree official misconduct, along with a charge of pattern of official misconduct.