West New York Police Captain Charged with Theft from Local Nonprofit Youth Academy

In a recent development that has shaken the West New York community, a Police Captain stands accused of siphoning funds from a local nonprofit organization. Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez disclosed the information on Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Police Captain Erwin Moreno, 49, has been charged by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Internal Affairs Units. The charges come after an investigation into funds reported missing by the West New York Youth Police Academy, Inc., where Moreno served as president.

The investigation alleges that Moreno misappropriated over $60,000 of the organization’s funds for personal use between 2016 and 2023. He is charged with one count of theft, a third-degree crime, according to N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a. Moreno was served with his complaint summons at the West New York Police Department and subsequently released. His first court appearance is provisionally scheduled for Thursday, June 29, 2023.

The West New York Youth Police Academy, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, has a mission to empower the children of West New York by helping build self-esteem, discipline, respect, and self-worth. It aims to develop model citizens who contribute to the community and acquire the necessary skills for careers in the public sector.

“The West New York Police Department has fully cooperated in the investigation and will continue to do so,” said Deputy Chief Santiago Cabrera. “We remain committed to maintaining the highest level of integrity and upholding both the law and the public trust.”