Prosecutors say Joseph Ridley-Jenkins used county-owned fuel pumps to fill trucks belonging to his private business, Z5 Logistics, almost daily for more than two years. He faces four years in state prison and must pay $20,000 in restitution.
MAYS LANDING, N.J. — An Atlantic County Department of Public Works supervisor has pleaded guilty to stealing county-owned fuel to operate his private trucking business, admitting that he used his position to obtain fuel without paying for it over a period of more than two years.
Joseph Ridley-Jenkins, 48, of Mays Landing, pleaded guilty Wednesday, Sept. 23, to an amended third-degree theft charge, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Under the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a four-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison. Ridley-Jenkins will also be required to pay $20,000 in restitution and will be permanently barred from public employment.
County Fuel Used to Fill Private Business Trucks
According to prosecutors, Ridley-Jenkins admitted during his guilty plea that he repeatedly used his position as a supervisor in the Atlantic County Department of Public Works to gain access to county-owned fuel pumps without providing payment.
Investigators determined that Ridley-Jenkins used the county's fuel supply to fill trucks belonging to his private business, Z5 Logistics.
Beginning in March 2023, Ridley-Jenkins directed employees of his private business to fuel the company's trucks at county-owned pumps almost daily, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
The unauthorized fueling continued into 2025.
The investigation began in May 2025, when members of the Atlantic County Department of Public Works alerted law enforcement to irregularities in the department's diesel fuel logs.
An investigation subsequently revealed that Ridley-Jenkins had used his supervisory position to provide his private business with access to the county's fuel supply.
The Prosecutor's Office did not specify the total amount of fuel taken or the number of vehicles involved.
Four-Year Prison Sentence Recommended
As part of his guilty plea, Ridley-Jenkins faces a recommended sentence of four years in New Jersey State Prison.
He will also be required to pay $20,000 in restitution and will be permanently barred from holding public employment.
The sentence remains subject to approval by a judge.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office did not announce a sentencing date in its news release.
The case was investigated by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office's Professional Standards and Accountability Unit.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Robinson is prosecuting the case for the state.
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Karen Johnson
With over 30 years of news experience in major markets like Los Angeles, Denver, and Columbus, Karen now covers our area for South Jersey NewsBeat. She also brings her articulate and conversational news delivery to WOND radio listeners every weekday. Her background includes work with the NBC Radio Network, and she thrives in fast-paced news environments.
