The Chief of the newly-created Economic Crime/Inspection Bureau, Richard Childs, used to own a furniture store, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

What’s interesting is that a county press release dated May 14, 2009, county communications director Sebastian D’Elia describes Childs’ background going all the way back to his days as a Newark Police Officer yet doesn’t mention his furniture business.

The press release states in part: Given the current economic crisis, the bureau was created by the Sheriff’s Office to investigate and refer economic matters such as credit card fraud, ponzi schemes, and identity theft to the Prosecutor’s Office, and provide expert witness testimony for grand jury and superior court. The office will also conduct public awareness programs on such matters to the public.

In an article I received anonymously in the mail last week, The Asbury Park Press did an extensive investigative report in 1986 on Seton Hall officials involved in a probe of the furniture company Childs started and owned. It describes Childs as an ex-Newark Police officer and former investigator with the attorney general’s office from 1977 – 1979.

Some excerpts:
“He (Childs) got me. He cleaned me out,” said Hall. “Everything I had. We were all greedy. I guess that was what our problem was. He told me priests were involved. That was his selling point.”

Because Childs was the one many investors has personal dealings with many direct their anger at him.

“I worked 15 years, seven days a week,” said John Carchio, who worked at the Forest Hill club where Childs was a member. “If I ever ran into him (Childs), I’d shoot him. I had so much faith in the guy.”

“He blitzed a bunch of people,” said Hall, Carchio’s former co-worker at the club. “When they take all your money to the tune of $8 million, I think there’s a problem there.”

This article was published long before electronic files were kept by the Asbury Park Press. I am unaware of any further articles or what were the consequences, if any, after the May 4, 1986 article was published.

The article states that Childs declined to discuss the case.
“No thank you,” he said. “I’ll just talk to the attorney general if he’s investigating it.”

Here is the text of the article.

Here is the county’s press release.

Tina Renna is president of the Union County Watchdog Association. She can be reached at tinarenna@unioncountywatchdog.org or 908-418-5586