TRENTON - An embattled former top aide to New Jersey's commerce chief used her state secretary to do some of her shopping and handle matters from her personal law practice, prosecutors said.
The allegations were cited during the arraignment Tuesday of Lesly Devereaux, who was indicted in December on 16 counts of official misconduct, conspiracy and theft, including illegally arranging state contracts for her mother and sister. They also were arraigned Tuesday; all three pleaded not guilty and remain free on bail.
They face up to 10 years in prison and $150,000 in fines if convicted of the most serious charges.
Prosecutors told Superior Court Judge Maryann Bielamowicz that Devereaux hired her former secretary from her law practice to the $45,000-a-year state job and then had her work on real estate transactions stemming from the law practice. The secretary also picked up mail and did some shopping for Devereaux, prosecutors said.
Devereaux's lawyer, Walter Timpone, said the legal work was limited to finishing a few cases that Devereaux had listed in disclosure forms.
Devereaux, of Piscataway, was chief of staff to the Rev. William Watley after he was named secretary of the state Commerce and Economic Growth Commission in 2002. She resigned in June, one month before Watley left.
