Forgery Case May Be Headed to Federal Court

The case against a former Democratic council candidate and her co-defendant may be referred to federal court if the plaintiff does not get what he believes he is entitled to as part of a plea agreement.

The parties representing Arlene Marchese and Karen Wright were due to meet in Superior Court to discuss a plea deal Tuesday. The proceeding had to be rescheduled, said Jay McCann, Passaic County chief assistant prosecutor. The meeting before Judge Gretta Goodwin-Brown was rescheduled for Sept. 16, said Dominick Lembo, the plaintiff.

Marchese and Wright are charged with theft and forgery. They allegedly stole $286,000 from Lembo’s dental practice for years. The women allegedly forged Lembo’s signature on the back of insurance checks and deposited $286,000 into their personal bank accounts.

“I just want everything to be done and over with,” Lembo said.

The women face 10 years in state prison if convicted.

Lembo wants Marchese and Wright to each pay $143,000. As part of the plea offer, a letter from Joseph Perconti, Lembo’s attorney, states that Marchese and Wright must pay $20,000 each to Lembo and another $20,000 each at the sentencing hearing. The women would also pay back $1,000 a month for the next eight and half years.

“We always try and get as much restitution as we possibly can and get as much up front as we can,” McCann said.

Marchese and Wright would also agree to “fully cooperate” with Lembo in his civil action case against TD Bank. Lembo wants to recoup the fees he was charged by the bank.

McCann said the sides were "close" to a deal late last week before the matter was rescheduled. 

Lembo said he spoke with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation this week regarding the case.

“If they don’t agree to the parameters that have been set forth in the plea agreement, I’m taking this case to federal court,” Lembo said.

Marchese ran as a Democrat for the 2nd Ward council seat in 2011 but was replaced on the ticket. She is the daughter in law of current council candidate Gary Marchese.

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