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NJ TRANSIT Conductors Accused Of Reselling Stolen Tickets At Major Markdowns

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Four NJ TRANSIT conductors were arrested Wednesday, on allegations that they resold stolen train tickets at a dramatic discount.

Wilbert Townsend, 47, of Woodbridge; Marquise Richardson, 40, of Newark; Robert Nemeth, 67, of Sayreville; and Andrew Paloti, 46, of Iselin were charged with commercial bribery, official misconduct, and theft, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's office.

They were accused of participating in a scheme in which they collected tickets from passengers, but did not cancel them as required, prosecutors said.

Instead, they allegedly bundled the tickets and resold them to monthly passengers at a major markdown, prosecutors said. The passengers paid between $100 and $200 for the bundles of tickets – about a third of the cost of a monthly ticket, prosecutors said. The tickets do not expire.

Townsend was arrested on a train at Newark Penn Station Wednesday morning, while Richardson was arrested while boarding a train at Princeton Junction when he arrived for work, prosecutors said.

Nemeth was arrested at his home in Sayreville, while Paloti turned himself into the Prosecutor's office, prosecutors said.

Nemeth is a retired conductor who left after 44 years of service on May 2. The others were suspended without pay, prosecutors said.

Townsend has been with NJ TRANSIT for 12 years, Richardson for 15, and Paloti for 21, prosecutors said.

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