Jury: Ex-Commerce aide misused public funds

[Ian David]

Monday, July 30, 2007
By ANGELA DELLI SANTI, Associated Press Writer

RENTON, N.J. (AP) — A former Commerce aide was convicted Monday of using state staff to run her private law practice, state prosecutors said.

Lesly Devereaux, who served as chief of staff for the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, was found guilty on two counts of misusing public funds. However, the Mercer County jury deadlocked on 12 counts in the 16-count indictment and acquitted Devereaux of two other charges.

After deliberating for more than a week, the jury could not reach consensus on charges that Devereaux steered state contracts to family members. She was acquitted on charges of conspiracy and conducting an unlawful business transaction.

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Devereaux was chief of staff to the Rev. William Watley when he was Commerce secretary under then-Gov. James E. McGreevey. She resigned abruptly in 2004, citing unspecified health problems, and was indicted later that year. Watley is pastor of St. James AME Church in Newark.

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