Politics & Government

Coutinho Quits Assembly, Reportedly Amid Criminal Probe

Ironbound lawmaker's charitable foundation under investigation, sources say.

An Ironbound lawmaker has resigned his post as the state Attorney General’s office conducts a criminal investigation into his family’s nonprofit foundation, NJ.com reported Wednesday.

The Web site, citing sources in the Attorney General’s office, said Assemblyman Albert Coutinho may face criminal charges stemming from his dealings with the Bernardo Couthino Foundation.

The foundation allegedly spent more than a half-million dollars in 2011 even though it had ceased raising money. The spending was then written off as loans, NJ.com reported. Couthino’s businesses also have liens totally about $500,000, much of that for unpaid taxes.

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County Democratic Party officials are meeting in Newark Wednesday night to discuss finding a replacement for the 44-year-old Coutinho.

Coutinho suffered a minor heart attack earlier this summer. http://newarknj.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/ironbound-lawmaker-suffers-heart-attack

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