Joseph Spicuzzo served a little over two years of a nine-year sentence.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- The former sheriff and Democratic chairman in Middlesex County was released from state prison Thursday on an intensive supervision program, his lawyer and state officials confirmed.
Joseph Spicuzzo served a little over two years of his nine-year sentence after he pleaded guilty to accepting $25,000 in bribes. His lengthy career as a power broker, police official and political boss was marked with accusations, some proven in the court of law, that he put badges in the state's second-largest county up for sale.
His lawyer said Spicuzzo's deteriorating health -- at 70, he is legally blind and suffered a stroke -- likely contributed to the decision to release him on the supervision program, which is not parole.
"Joe looked terrible, but all he could talk about was seeing his grandchildren," said attorney Joseph Benedict.
The supervision program means that Spicuzzo is now at home, but if he doesn't check in with officials two or three times a day, he could be returned to prison, Benedict said. That contrasts with parole, where a re-offender would have to have a hearing to go back to prison. Though Spicuzzo is home, he is technically still in custody. Those restrictions are on Spicuzzo for 90 days, after which they could be re-evaluated or lessened.
Spicuzzo, who most recently served his term at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Avenel, previously was denied parole because he still blamed his crimes on others. He was eligible to apply for parole again in November 2016. He began serving his term in September of 2013.
The case continues to reverberate in Middlesex County, where several employees have been fired for their alleged role in the bribes and were in court last year fighting for their jobs. Five investigators and one officer were suspended after the state attorney general's investigation and Spicuzzo's conviction.
Rumors of bribes for jobs and promotions dogged Spicuzzo for years. In 1997, The Star-Ledger published an extensive report concluding that Spicuzzo "manipulated his office into a self-serving domain." Fourteen years later, a state grand jury indicted Spicuzzo on charges that he accepted $112,000 in bribes over 12 years.
Spicuzzo, who served for 30 years as sheriff, did not run for re-election in 2010. He forfeited his pension as part of a plea deal.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
