The Friends of Mercer County Parks has been linked to an investigation by the state attorney general's office
TRENTON -- The Friends of Mercer County Parks, the nonprofit that has been linked to an ongoing investigation by the state attorney general's office, is asking the court to appoint a special fiscal agent or custodial receiver, the group's lawyer confirmed Tuesday.
Daniella Gordon, a Moorestown-based attorney representing the group, filed the papers Friday -- one of the reasons being that the trustees board no longer has three members, as is required by state law.
Joseph Schmeltz left in late May for "personal reasons" and the other two trustees, Amy Wargo and James Moscarello, plan to step aside once a court-appointed receiver is in place, Gordon said.
"They're now pulled into the middle of this nonsense and it doesn't make sense at this point for them to continue with their volunteer efforts," she said. "Because of the existence of the investigation into the county by the attorney general's office, regardless of whether it has merit or not, it disables the Friends of Mercer County Parks from functioning right now."
The nonprofit has been under a cloud since April 26 when the Hunt House and tennis center were raided.
The county would not say anything beyond confirming the raids were part of a state investigation into allegations of official misconduct, corruption of public resources and theft by extortion, but the park commission's president singled out the friends group as the focus of the investigation.
No other specifics have been provided since then and the attorney general's office, as policy, does not confirm or deny whether it is conducting a criminal investigation.
"I have no doubt that the Friends of Mercer County Parks is part of their investigation, but I have no idea if it's a small part or a large part," Gordon said. "I have no idea what the attorney general is trying to get at this point."
Gordon, who was retained by the group in May, said neither she, Wargo or Moscarello have been contacted by the attorney general's office.
"They know I'm involved and available and willing to hear whatever they have to say," she said.
Gordon said Schmeltz is represented separately by attorney Jerry Ballarotto, who could not be immediately reached for comment.
"It's kind of sad to see them dragged, even by association, with something as scandalizing as an investigation can sound," she said. "There have been no allegations of wrongdoing by any of them individually. I'm just trying to delink them at this point from the idea that they did something wrong."
If appointed by the judge, a special fiscal agent or receiver would, among other things, coordinate with Gordon should the attorney general have any inquiries and review a "potential discrepancy" between the nonprofit and county over the amount of money owed for events and other fundraisers the friends group planned to host on county property, Gordon said.
Last week, the commission fired executive director Kevin Bannon, who is believed to have some involvement with the nonprofit.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.