Ventnor City Official Sentenced for Stealing $75,000

Ventnor City, NJ — A former code enforcement officer from Ventnor City has been sentenced to five years in state prison for stealing $75,000 over two years. Michelle Calderon, 39, was sentenced in Atlantic County Superior Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to second-degree theft. Calderon worked as a code enforcement officer for ten years, overseeing permits related to building, housing, and parking. Authorities said the thefts took place between 2021 and 2023 and were uncovered when discrepancies in the city’s financial records were noticed. Prosecutors revealed that Calderon, who earned $45,200 annually, took advantage of her position by manipulating financial ledgers and pocketing cash payments. Investigators later found luxury goods purchased with the stolen money at her home in Egg Harbor Township. As part of her plea agreement, Calderon has paid back $50,000 in restitution, with the rest to be paid after her release from prison. She has also been barred from holding any future public employment.