NJ Men Indicted On Charges They Ran Phony 9/11 Charity

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Two New Jersey men who admitted operating a bogus 9/11 charity have been indicted on conspiracy and theft by deception charges.

Prosecutors say Thomas Scalgione of Stafford Township and Mark Niemczyk of Tinton Falls brought a custom-painted pickup truck to public events, where they sold T-shirts featuring the logos of the New York City police and fire departments.

They're accused of keeping the donations for themselves.

The charges stem from an investigation the state conducted last year, which led to the men entering into a consent judgment that barred the men from charity work.

Niemczyk is also accused of failing to file a personal state income tax return in 2011.

The indictment was handed up Friday by a state grand jury and was made public Monday.

The red pickup truck which bears the names of those killed on 9/11 was ordered impounded by a judge last summer.

New Jersey sued the ex-convicts last year for using a 9/11 victim's name as part of their fundraising effort and for creating a bogus charity.

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