Obituaries

Former Cinnaminson Sewerage Authority Superintendent Dies

Paul Phillips, a Cinnaminson resident, was 54.

Paul Phillips, the former superintendent of the Cinnaminson Sewerage Authority, died Feb. 15, according to an obituary on Phillyburbs.com. 

His death came one year to the day he and six other sewerage authority employees were arrested on corruption and theft charges in a widespread scandal at the agency. 

In all, 10 people—including Assistant Superintendent William Yannarella—were charged in the scandal. Phillips faced 17 counts, including charges of theft, tampering with records, official misconduct, conspiracy to commit official misconduct and more. 

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Authorities alleged that through various schemes, Phillips and the other sewerage authority employees, contractors and family members charged stole at least $100,000 in public resources. 

The charges against Phillips were pending with the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office at the time of his death. Joel Bewley, spokesman for the prosecutor, said Wednesday his office will move to dismiss the charges against Phillips once it receives official confirmation of his death. 

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The charges against the remaining defendants are pending presentation to a grand jury, Bewley said. 

Phillips' cause of death was not disclosed. 

He is the second person connected with the scandal to die in recent months. 

Joseph Leman, 27, died Oct. 13, 2012, in a motorcycle crash in Cherry Hill. Lehman, a subcontractor with the authority, was arrested and charged with theft and conspiracy to commit theft. His charges were among the less serious compared to the alleged co-conspirators. Lehman's brothers Jeffrey and Shawn, and their father Joseph Jr., were also arrested and charged in the scandal. 

Phillips is survived by wife, Debra (Hullings); his mother, Sarah (Hector) Coloazo; his children, Matthew Phillips (Michelle), Katie Phillips and Nick Weber, Stephen Phillips and Amanda Colon (Carmel); his special nephew, Tim Elison; his grandchildren, Carmel IV and Alyson; his siblings, Jerry Phillips and Sally Ashe; and several other nieces, nephews and friends, according to his obituary. 

Services for Phillips will be held 7-9 p.m. Thursday and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday at Weber Funeral Home, 112 Broad St. (River Road), Riverton, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Church, 4th Street and Linden Avenue, Riverton. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the American Cancer Society, 1851 Old Cuthbert Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.

(Patch Associate Regional Editor Lauren Burgoon and Local Editor Rob Scott contributed to this report.)

To read Cinnaminson Patch's previous coverage of the CSA scandal, click here


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