MAYS LANDING, NEW JERSEY — A New Jersey man used his position as a county public works supervisor to steal nearly $80,000 worth of diesel fuel from Atlantic County and funnel it into his private trucking company’s fleet. A grand jury has now indicted him on second-degree charges.
On March 10, 2026, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Joseph Jenkins-Ridley, 48, of Mays Landing, on second-degree charges of Official Misconduct, Theft, and Conspiracy. The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office accused him of orchestrating and leading a large-scale diesel fuel theft operation.
How the Scheme Worked
Jenkins-Ridley held two roles at the same time. He worked as a supervisor in the Roads and Bridges Division of the Atlantic County Department of Public Works. He also owned Z5 Logistics LLC, a private New Jersey trucking company. Jenkins-Ridley used his county access to direct Z5 employees to fuel company trucks at county-owned fuel pumps — almost daily — starting in March 2023. The theft continued for more than two years before investigators caught on.
How It Unraveled
In May 2025, Atlantic County Fleet Management staff spotted a large box truck fueling at the county-owned station in Northfield. When staff approached, the truck sped away. That incident triggered an investigation. Investigators uncovered that Jenkins-Ridley had provided his county fuel access code to Z5 employees.
On June 2, 2025, detectives caught Z5 employees fueling company trucks at the Atlantic County fuel site without authorization. Officers arrested three employees on the spot — Zakar Ridley, 26, of Mays Landing; Jason Meredith, 34, of Absecon; and Corey Smith, 27, of Pleasantville — each on disorderly persons theft charges. Jenkins-Ridley was also arrested that same day.
The total amount of fuel stolen came to just under $80,000, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Robinson is representing the State. The Professional Standards and Accountability Unit conducted the investigation.
Anyone with information about serious crimes in Atlantic County can contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or submit a tip anonymously at ACPO.Tips. Crime Stoppers can also be reached at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477.
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