Prosecutor: Cop Pleads Guilty to $75K Theft from PBA Coffers

A police officer has pleaded guilty to pilfering more than $75,000 from his Policeman’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Chapter, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced on Friday.

Abraham “Jason” Gassman, 53, a former South Brunswick officer, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft during a hearing held on Thursday before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Henry Butehorn.

Orders permanently forfeiting Gassman’s public office and firearms were signed on Thursday.

Sentencing in the case has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, when the state intends to seek a term of seven years in state prison, with a reduction to five years if full restitution is paid to the PBA and Target by that date. The state also intends to seek an order barring him from returning to any Target, where he had shoplifted roughly $100 in merchandise from the store, starting the investigation that revealed the major PBA theft.

The case background …

An investigation led by members of the MCPO Professional Responsibility Unit revealed that early last year, Gassman shoplifted bedding items valued at about $100 from a Target in Ocean Township, leaving the scene in his police vehicle.

The investigation went on to find that Gassman had served as his local PBA Chapter’s Treasurer since 2009, exercising exclusive control over its finances, and in that capacity stole more than $75,000 from the PBA in multiple ways over a span of a little more than six years, including using the PBA credit card to make personal purchases and stealing cash proceeds from PBA charity fundraisers and other events.

These personal purchases included a wide range of home-improvement items, such as patio furniture, storage containers, vacuums, propane gas, a leaf blower, televisions, a home gym kit, a microwave, luggage, and food. On one occasion, the investigation found, Gassman used the PBA’s credit card to purchase lodging, parking, gas and food for himself and another officer on a business trip, then submitted a purchasing order to the police department seeking reimbursement.

The investigation also found that Gassman submitted documents to the PBA accountant, falsely indicating that he had paid back personal purchases, and also changed the password to the PBA’s credit card when asked questions by the PBA’s leadership, effectively locking them out.

Gassman turned himself in to authorities in July of 2025.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office