Don Codey pleads guilty in Jersey court

The Asbury (NJ) Park Press has reported that Donald R. Codey, former president and general manager of Freehold Raceway and brother of New Jersey Senator and former Gov. Richard Codey, has pleaded guilty to stealing $3,045 in racetrack promotional vouchers and helping two patrons cash more than $1.3 million in bad checks at the track.

 

About $900,000 of the $1.3 million in bad checks has not yet been repaid. Codey cashed the checks for Darryl Thomas, 50, and Joseph A. Siragusa, 43.

 

The story said Codey, 65, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Monmouth County to third-degree theft by unlawful taking for the theft of the vouchers. The vouchers were "Mystery Vouchers" worth $3,045.

 

Each voucher was issued to be redeemable for a “mystery” amount, ranging from $2 to $5,000, if taken to the Favorites off-track betting facility on site on President’s Day, Feb. 16, 2009, and used to place bets. Codey reportedly used the vouchers to place wagers at Favorites that day.

 

Codey also pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree issuing bad checks, one for each of the two
patrons he assisted in cashing bad checks.

 

The charges against Codey came following an investigation by the New Jersey State Police, which took place after an internal investigation by Pennwood Racing, which owns Freehold.

 

The state reportedly plans to recommend that Codey be sentenced to up to 364 days in jail as a condtion of a term of probation. He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 22.

 

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