A former Morris County Sheriff’s Officer who was among five officers who pled guilty to drug charges last year received the most lenient sentence of the group on Tuesday.
Brian T. Rzucidlo, 36, was granted admission into Pretrial Intervention (PTI) for two years. If he successfully completes the probationary program, his third-degree charge of conspiracy to possess cocaine will be dismissed.
“Good luck, Mr. Rzucidlo,” said Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor, approving the sentence recommended by Morris County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Seabury during a virtual hearing.
Four of Rzucidlo’s former colleagues were sentenced in February to probation terms ranging from two- to three years, after pleading guilty last October to a scheme that involved cocaine deliveries to the parking lot of the Morris County Jail.
They could have faced lengthy imprisonment and hefty fines on a variety of second- and third degree charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and the prescription painkiller oxycodone, and to obstructing the investigation.
A tip to Sheriff James Gannon’s CrimeStoppers program was their undoing.
Rzucidlo, who was hired in 2009 and earned $68,194 working in the jail’s policy unit, still is banned from public employment for life, along with the others.
The prosecutor’s office initially recommended a sentence of three years’ probation in exchange for Rzucidlo’s guilty plea. Seabury did not explain why Rzucidlo now was offered PTI, a one-time chance for first offenders to wipe their records clean.
For the next two years, Rzucidlo must remain drug-free, continue aftercare treatment, and avoid any scrapes with the law. If he does not, he can be sentenced on the drug charge, Judge Taylor told him via Zoom.
Third-degree conspiracy to possess cocaine can carry a jail term of up to five years.
Seated beside his lawyer, Peter Gilbreth, Rzucidlo told the judge he is participating in a drug treatment program in Pompton Lakes, and also is attending college.
The former officer answered “Yes, sir” and “No, sir,” to Taylor’s questions, but made no statements. Rzucidlo must pay $125 in fees, to the Victims of Crime Compensation Office and the Safe Neighborhoods Services Fund.
Taylor previously imposed sentences of probation on former Sgt. Dominick Andico, 33; Albert Wyman IV, 36; Nicholas Ricciotti, 31, and Robert Busold, age 27.
They will have criminal records after completing their probation. They also must forfeit their pensions. Rzucidlo’s pension status was not discussed on Tuesday.
The former officers bought drugs for their own use; they did not distribute them to inmates, according to the prosecutor’s office.