By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on Tuesday, May 27, Michelle Calderon, 39, from Egg Harbor Township, a former Code Enforcement Officer with Ventnor City, was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Donna M. Taylor, J.S.C., to five years in New Jersey State Prison after pleading guilty to Theft by Failure to make Lawful Disposition of Entrusted Property.
As part of the plea, Ms. Calderon was required to make partial restitution of $50,000 to the City of Ventnor prior to sentence, Atlantic County officials say.
Additionally, as part of the sentence, Ms. Calderon will have to pay any remaining restitution upon her release from New Jersey State Prison, forfeit the numerous high-end items purchased using the stolen money and seized as part of a search warrant on her home, and forfeit current and future public employment, ACPO officials said.
According to Atlantic County officials, the case originated from an investigation initiated when Ventnor City officials discovered a discrepancy in their financial records.
Upon reporting the incident, law enforcement observed that Calderon sought to personally supervise all cash transactions while working for Ventnor City’s Department of Code Enforcement, which is responsible for building, housing, parking, zoning, flooding, and dumpster permits, ACPO authorities stated. 
Atlantic County officials stated that law enforcement further observed that, from 2021 to 2023, Calderon altered the balance sheets and retained the money for herself.
The amount of money taken exceeded $75,000, according to ACPO officials.