(The Associated Press circulated the following article on May 27.)
NEWARK, N.J. — An appeals court has overturned a prison sentence for a former NJ Transit vice president who was the only person ever sentenced under a law that made it illegal for public servants to take gifts even if they did nothing in return.
The law has since been repealed.
Maureen Milan, 55, former head of bus operations at NJ Transit, had pleaded guilty to accepting four tickets worth $1,600 to the Broadway musical “The Producers” from a company that had a $500 million contract with her agency. She served one month of that term before being freed on bail pending her appeal.
Wednesday’s ruling by a state appeals court prevents her from having to return to jail, ruling that would be “a serious injustice.” But the court would not allow her to withdraw her guilty plea. As a result, Milan can never hold another public job in New Jersey. She now lives in Massachusetts.
She was fired from her $164,000-a-year job after the charges were filed in March 2003.
“We’re pleased with what we got,” Milan’s lawyer, Joseph Donahue said.