EMT at Woodbridge center for the disabled charged with theft

An EMT at the Woodbridge Developmental Center was charged with theft by deception and falsifying government records, officials said.

WOODBRIDGE — An Emergency Medical Technician at a Woodbridge facility that cares for the developmentally disabled has been accused of falsifying her hours and claiming to have worked shifts when she was actually at a second job, officials said.

Martha Gonzalez was charged with theft by deception and falsification of government records earlier this month, said Nicole Brossoie, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services.

Gonzalez worked at both the Woodbridge Developmental Center as an EMT and at East Jersey State Prison in Avenel as a medical technician, Brossoie said. Gonzalez allegedly would make her shifts overlap between the two jobs, meaning she would collect pay for performing both jobs even though she was only at one of the facilities, authorities said.

The charges were filed March 13, after a months-long investigation, Brossoie said.

Gonzalez earned an annual salary of $48,209 to serve as an EMT at the Woodbridge center, according to public records.

The developmental center is scheduled to close in January, one of two centers for persons with developmental disabilities that Gov. Chris Christie announced plans to shut down earlier this year. Relatives of several residents at the homes have filed a federal lawsuit hoping to block the move.

Calls to the developmental center seeking comment were not returned.

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