A former Department of Public Works supervisor for Atlantic County, New Jersey, has pled guilty to theft of thousands of dollars of gasoline.
According to law enforcement officials in New Jersey, on Wednesday, Joseph Ridley-Jenkins, 48, of Mays Landing, plead guilty to theft charges after he was charged with using his role as a supervisor for Atlantic County’s Department of Public Works to steal gasoline from county-owned gas stations.
Officials said in May of 2025, an investigation began after employees in Atlantic County’s Department of Public Works alerted law enforcement officials after finding irregularities in their diesel fuel logs.
An investigation into these irregularities showed that, for two years, Ridley-Jenkins had been using his position with the county to gain access to Atlantic County-owned fuel pumps to fill up vehicles for his private business, Z5 Logistics.
The investigation determined that, since March of 2023, Ridley-Jenkins had been directing employees at his Z5 Logistics company to fuel trucks at county-owned pumps on a nearly daily basis.
Prosecutors noted that the recommended sentencing for Ridley-Jenkins is four years in prison.
He is also expected to be required to pay $20,000 in restitution and will be permanently barred from working in public employment, officials said.
