TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) has announced charges against Guilherme H. Jamarino, 47, of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, for allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual communications with crime victims he was assigned to assist. Jamarino, a former investigator for the NJ Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO), faces charges of second-degree official misconduct.
The charges stem from an OPIA investigation initiated by a referral from the VCCO, an agency within the Department of Law and Public Safety that offers financial aid to crime victims. Investigations revealed that Jamarino used his position to solicit unwarranted privileges, violating the State Uniform Ethics Code.
Between December 9, 2021, and July 20, 2022, Jamarino allegedly used his personal phone to send increasingly inappropriate and explicit messages to at least four victims, undermining the professional nature required by his role. This behavior reportedly left the victims upset and confused. Jamarino was terminated from his position on July 25, 2022.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin emphasized the severity of the betrayal, stating that Jamarino’s actions contradicted the VCCO’s mission to treat crime victims with fairness, compassion, and respect. Platkin affirmed the commitment to holding Jamarino accountable for his actions, which starkly contrast the typical service provided by VCCO staff.
Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA, commented on the gravity of the exploitation, highlighting the vulnerability of the victims involved. Skinner asserted that such misconduct undermines public trust in government agencies designed to aid citizens.
Jamarino is scheduled for a pre-indictment conference on August 9, 2024, in Superior Court in Essex County, as the legal proceedings continue.
