Former NJ Transit Manager Sentenced After Stealing Over a Million Dollars Worth of Agency Cellphones Over Several Years

A former NJ Transit manager from New Jersey has been formally sentenced after pleading guilty to stealing more than a million dollars worth of cellphones from the public transportation agency over a span of several years and reselling them for personal profit, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

Peejay Manila, 37, a former resident of Hackensack who later relocated to Little Ferry, entered a guilty plea earlier this year to charges of theft by unlawful taking and failure to pay or report taxes on his illegal income. Under the terms of his plea agreement with prosecutors, he agreed to a five-year prison sentence and is required to pay full restitution to NJ Transit, with the amount estimated at approximately $1.38 million.

According to investigators, Manila exploited his position as a manager within NJ Transit to access and steal a large number of cellphones from the agency’s inventory over the course of multiple years. He then resold the stolen devices, generating substantial illegal income that he failed to report to tax authorities. He has agreed as part of the plea to file amended tax returns covering the years 2021 through 2024, which investigators estimate will reveal significant additional tax liability.

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport described the case as a clear example of a public employee abusing a position of trust for personal enrichment at the expense of New Jersey taxpayers. She emphasized that the financial harm fell not only on the transit agency but on every resident whose tax dollars help fund public transportation in the state.

NJ Transit, which serves millions of commuters across New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia, relies on public funding in addition to fare revenue to operate its extensive rail, bus, and light rail network. Theft from the agency directly reduces resources available for service improvements, maintenance, safety investments, and fare affordability.

The case was prosecuted through the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, a unit within the state Attorney General’s office that focuses specifically on corruption and abuse of public trust by government employees and officials. The unit has pursued a range of public corruption cases in recent years involving employees at the state, county, and municipal levels.

Anti-corruption prosecutors noted that Manila used the stolen funds to support what investigators described as a lavish personal lifestyle inconsistent with his legitimate government salary. They emphasized that public employees who exploit their positions for personal gain will face the full consequences of the law.

The NJ Transit case underscores the importance of strong internal controls, auditing procedures, and inventory management within public agencies. Advocates for government accountability have called on NJ Transit and other state agencies to review their asset management protocols in the wake of the case to prevent similar thefts from occurring in the future.

Sources

• New Jersey Office of the Attorney General – Press Release
• NJ Transit