ATLANTIC COUNTY—A county Public Works supervisor is accused of operating a diesel theft scheme for 26 months before anyone noticed, siphoning nearly $80,000 in diesel to supply his private trucking company. Joseph Jenkins-Ridley of Mays Landing allegedly used access codes belonging to subordinate employees to bypass pump authorization systems from March 2023 through May 2025. Automated systems never flagged the unauthorized withdrawals.

"We Caught Him," Says Levinson

County Executive Dennis Levinson announced the indictment on March 24, stating "We caught him" and emphasizing the administration's role in uncovering the scheme. But county sources confirmed detection came only after Public Works officials happened to spot a box truck with a "Z5" logo fueling at county pumps after hours on May 27, 2025. The driver fled, leaving behind a cell phone that identified the operation.

Jenkins-Ridley earned $48,516 annually as a Public Works supervisor according to county records cited by NJ.com. The alleged theft generated roughly $3,000 monthly, about three-quarters of his monthly paycheck, over 26 months. County officials have not disclosed whether the theft strained municipal fuel reserves or forced departments to curtail services.

County officials suspended Jenkins-Ridley without pay on June 3, 2025. The case required nine months to reach indictment, which a grand jury returned on March 10, 2026. While nine months falls within standard timelines for defendants released on bail, prosecutors have not disclosed what specific evidence required extended investigation despite physical evidence recovery at the scene.

Three Others Charged in Relation to Case

On June 2, 2025, authorities charged Jenkins-Ridley alongside three co-defendants: Zakar Ridley (26, Mays Landing), Jason Meredith (34, Absecon) and Corey Smith (27, Pleasantville). Property records show Zakar Ridley listed the same Summersweet Drive address as Jenkins-Ridley. The 22-year age gap suggests a possible parent-child relationship, though authorities have not confirmed connections between the defendants. The co-defendants face disorderly persons theft charges in municipal court. Authorities have not disclosed whether the co-defendants were county employees or private individuals.

Investigators traced the stolen fuel to Z5 Logistics LLC, registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under USDOT #3674084. Business records list the firm at Jenkins-Ridley's residence, 4718 Summersweet Drive in the Harding Run II townhouse community in Mays Landing. The 1,346 square foot residential property operated as a commercial trucking base.

Jenkins-Ridley wore a Rutgers shirt in his booking photo according to BreakingAC.com, which first reported his arrest. He faces second-degree official misconduct, carrying five to ten years in prison if convicted. Those charges were automatically upgraded from initial third-degree charges once the valuation exceeded $75,000. The defendant posted $100,000 bail.

Not the First Public Misconduct Case in Atlantic County

The case recalls Atlantic County's 1971 public corruption scandal, when a State Commission of Investigation found an assistant purchasing agent misappropriated $130,000 between 1958 and 1970. The investigation found that the county failed to deliver monthly ledger sheets to department heads or conduct unannounced audits. That Commission recommended ongoing unannounced reviews and irregular bank reconciliations, which Levinson said the county implemented in the 1970s. Jenkins-Ridley's 2023-2025 scheme operated 52 years after those reforms, though the departments and mechanisms differ.

County officials won't say if the subordinate workers whose codes were used still have their jobs, or what, if anything, has changed at the pumps since June to prevent a recurrence. No court date is set.

Sources

• Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, "Indictment: Joseph Jenkins-Ridley," March 10, 2026

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, "Z5 Logistics LLC," USDOT #3674084.

• State Commission of Investigation, "Report on Atlantic County Purchasing Practices," 1971.

• CBS Philadelphia, "Atlantic County Public Works supervisor stole nearly $80K in fuel," March 24, 2026.

• Daily Journal/Courier Post, "Suspended Atlantic County supervisor indicted in alleged fuel theft scheme," March 25, 2026.

• NJ.com, "Public Works supervisor stole nearly $80K in gas from Atlantic County, authorities say," March 24, 2026.

• NJ1015, "NJ supervisor stole almost $80K in gas over 2 years, officials say," March 24, 2026.

• BreakingAC.com, "Arrest: Joseph Jenkins-Ridley," June 2, 2025; Updated March 24, 2026.

• News12 New Jersey, "Atlantic County supervisor indicted for stealing nearly $80K in fuel," March 24, 2026.

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