NJT Conductor Charged With Attempting to Defraud Railroad

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office announced on Friday night that two people have been charged with attempting to defraud New Jersey Transit. 

New Jersey Transit Director Jim Weinstein and Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw Jr. announced that Robert Broschart, 49, of Howell and a conductor with the railroad was charged with second degree official misconduct, third degree theft and third degree conspiracy.

Phillip Swanger, 45, of Bradley Beach was charged with third degree theft and third degree conspiracy as Broschart's accomplice. 

The arrests come after a seven month investigation conducted by the prosecutor's office and the New Jersey Transit Police. Law enforcement was notified that some passengers were riding on the North Jersey Coast Line without paying their fares. 

Instead, according to the investigation, Broschart and Swanger were involved in a scheme to "defraud NJ Transit of passenger fares." Swanger, the report said, would find passengers to ride on the trains without paying a fare. They would then pay Broschart a lesser fee for riding on the train on either a monthly or quarterly basis. Broschart is also alleged to have pretended to check the tickets of those passengers to make everything look legitimate. 

New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo said they take charges like these very seriously. "New Jersey Transit employees who abuse their authority and criminally violate the public trust will be held accountable and charged for their illegal actions," he said. "The public should be aware that the purchase of NJ Transit tickets should only be made through authorized vendors."

Chief Trucillo credited the work of the New Jersey Transit detectives and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office for their work leading to the arrests.

Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Scully set Broschart's bail at $75 thousand with no 10 percent option and Swanger's bail at $25 thousand with no 10 percent option.

The second degree official misconduct charge brings a maximum jail sentence of 10 years in state prison. The third degree theft and conspiracy charge carries a maximum of five years in prison as does Swanger's third degree theft and conspiracy charge.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Sgt. John Maggs of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 732-421-7160 ext. 5839 or Det. Michael Bavosa of the NJ Transit Police at 973-491-8953.

The case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Michael J. Costanzo from the Special Prosecution Bureau. Defense Counsel has not been entered for Broschart and Swanger.