Former Crime Victims’ Investigator Indicted for Alleged Exploitation of Victims

In a case that underscores the betrayal of public trust, a former investigator for the New Jersey Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) has been indicted on charges of official misconduct after allegedly sending sexually explicit and inappropriate messages to crime victims he was assigned to assist.

The indictment, announced today by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), marks a stark violation of the very principles the VCCO was established to uphold.

Guilherme H. Jamarino, 47, of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, faces seven criminal counts, including six counts of second-degree official misconduct and one count of pattern of official misconduct.

Public records show Guilherme Henrique Jamarino is registered to vote in Ocean County, New Jersey, and is affiliated with the Republican Party.

The charges stem from allegations that, between December 2019 and July 2022, Jamarino exploited his position to send sexually suggestive, solicitous, or explicit messages to at least six female victims seeking assistance from the VCCO.

The VCCO, an agency within the Department of Law and Public Safety, exists to provide financial support to victims of violent crime and their families, helping to alleviate the emotional and economic burdens of victimization.

As an investigator, Jamarino’s role was to assist vulnerable individuals in navigating the process of obtaining reimbursement for costs related to their victimization.

Instead, authorities allege, he used his access to victims’ contact information to engage in deeply inappropriate conduct.

According to the indictment, Jamarino’s communications with the victims often began with discussions about their VCCO claims but quickly devolved into exchanges that included nude or partially nude photographs of himself and invitations to meet in person.

These actions, prosecutors say, not only violated the trust placed in him as a public servant but also compounded the trauma of individuals already grappling with the aftermath of crime.

“We allege that although this defendant worked for an office that helps crime victims, he instead subjected them to further injustice,” Platkin said. “His alleged behavior exploited his professional relationship with the victims and further eroded the trust of these victims when they needed support and reassurance.”

Drew Skinner, Executive Director of the OPIA, echoed this sentiment, stating, “As alleged, the defendant’s job was to help crime victims, but instead, he used his official position for his own benefit.”

The indictment, returned by a state grand jury in Trenton, charges Jamarino with second-degree offenses, each carrying a potential sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and fines of up to $150,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Diana Bibb and Assistant Attorney General Michael Grillo, under the supervision of Corruption Bureau Co-Directors Jeff Manis and Eric Gibson, and OPIA Director Skinner.

This case raises troubling questions about the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable individuals who interact with government agencies.

It also serves as a reminder of the profound responsibility borne by those in positions of authority—and the consequences when that responsibility is abused.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the focus will remain on ensuring accountability for the alleged misconduct and restoring faith in the systems designed to support victims of crime. For now, the indictment stands as a sobering testament to the harm inflicted when trust is broken, and power is misused.