Officials have released additional information on the arrest of two city water utility employees.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- Two city water utility workers are accused of accepting money in exchange for reducing water and sewer bills and tampering with public records.
The new details in the case emerged in a criminal complaint provided by the state Attorney General's office in the arrests of William Ortiz, a 55-year-old city water meter reader from North Brunswick, and Joseph DeBonis, a 54-year-old Toms River man, a water meter reader and senior account clerk at the department.
Between Nov. 22 and Nov. 23, Ortiz allegedly agreed to accept $2,000 "to reduce the water and sewer bills of another" person, according to the criminal complaint.
DeBonis is also accused of falsifying water and sewer bills and tampering with public records, the complaint said.
The attorney general's office declined to identify who benefited from the reduced water and sewer bills.
Ortiz was charged with bribery and official misconduct, and DeBonis was charged with tampering with public records and official misconduct, according to a statement from the city.
The investigation was handled by the city and the state Division of Criminal Justice.
Both men have both been suspended as the investigation into the matter continues.
DeBonis earns $43,221 after 22 years of service, according to state pension records. According to Tapinto.net, Ortiz makes $46,864 and has been in the state pension system for roughly 18 years.
In December 2015, the former license operator of the New Brunswick and Milltown water utilities pleaded guilty to submitting false water purity test data to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.