Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced on Mar. 13 that a state grand jury has returned a 24-count indictment against Timothy Morris, a former New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) lieutenant. Morris, who managed the agency’s shooting ranges, is accused of stealing ammunition from his employer and selling it for personal profit over several years.
The case highlights concerns about public trust and accountability in law enforcement. The indictment alleges that Morris used his position to order surplus ammunition between 2019 and 2025, then sold it on the secondary market for cash and checks made out to himself. Davenport said, “This defendant was a law enforcement officer entrusted with the power to use taxpayer resources to run firing ranges for nearly two decades. As alleged in the indictment, he exploited that position of public trust for his own personal benefit.” She added, “This type of behavior not only depletes public funds, but it also erodes the public’s trust in government. Our office will always work to ensure that people who hold positions of public trust take that privilege and responsibility seriously and we would hold them accountable when they do not.”
Eric L. Gibson, Executive Director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), said, “Our investigation found that, for years, this defendant allegedly unlawfully padded his paycheck at the taxpayers’ expense. He also failed to report that windfall on his tax returns, further depriving the State, according to this indictment. This case is another clear illustration of the true cost of public corruption, and why pursuing these cases is vital to cutting off wasteful spending and restoring public confidence.” Acting NJDOC Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn stated, “The indictment of former Lieutenant Timothy Morris underscores our commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards and ensuring that no individual is above the law. The alleged actions of former Lt. Morris were a betrayal of the public trust and the values we demand at the New Jersey Department of Corrections.”
Morris allegedly profited more than $400,000 by ordering excess ammunition intended for department use at four gun ranges across New Jersey as well as Special Operations Group Headquarters in Trenton. The funds included $60,000 in vacuum-sealed bundles derived from sales of stolen ammunition. According to court documents, he received checks from these sales and cashed them using methods designed to conceal their origin by breaking up large transactions into smaller amounts below currency reporting thresholds.
He is also accused of failing to pay state income tax on proceeds from these activities between 2020 and 2024 by filing false tax returns omitting required income totaling more than $418,000 during those years.
The charges include official misconduct (second degree), theft by unlawful taking (second degree), financial facilitation of criminal activity (second degree), eleven counts related to financial facilitation (third degree), five counts each for failure to pay or turn over taxes (third degree), and filing fraudulent returns (third degree). Second-degree charges carry potential sentences up to ten years in prison; third-degree charges carry up to five years.
According to the official website, the New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin aims to protect residents’ lives and property while providing statewide legal support; its authority extends throughout all counties and municipalities according to its official site. The office influences public safety through law enforcement oversight as reported by its website, holds statutory authority over prosecution statewide according to its mandate, offers services such as crime lab support and victim advocacy according to its official description, and functions as an agency focused on justice across New Jersey as described online.
Deputy Attorneys General Richard T. Bobbe III and Brian O’Loughlin are prosecuting under OPIA supervision; defense counsel is Patrick P. Toscano Jr., Esq., The Toscano Law Firm.