Federal Court Upholds Ex-Ocean Co. GOP Boss Gilmore's Conviction

NEWARK, NJ — A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction on tax charges of George Gilmore, the former chairman of the Ocean County Republican Party who is widely seen as one of the most powerful Republicans in New Jersey.

Gilmore, 71, of Toms River, was sentenced Jan. 22 to 366 days in prison for his conviction on two counts of failing to pay over payroll taxes withheld from employees to the IRS and one count of making false statements on a bank loan application submitted to Ocean First Bank. But his sentence was put on hold pending the outcome of his appeal.

It was not immediately clear when Gilmore will be required to report to prison to start serving his sentence; a message left with the U.S. Attorney's office was not immediately returned.

Gilmore, a former equity partner and shareholder at Gilmore & Monahan P.A., was convicted in April 2019, following a two-week federal trial. The U.S. Attorney's office said Gilmore exercised primary control over the firm's financial affairs. He and his former partner, Thomas E. Monahan, had served as the attorneys for multiple public bodies in Ocean County and throughout the state. Among the firm's clients are Berkeley Township, Lacey Township, Little Egg Harbor, Plumsted and Seaside Heights. Gilmore had been named township attorney in Howell in 2019 as well. The law firm has since been dissolved.

The federal jury found Gilmore not guilty on two counts of filing false tax returns and could not reach a unanimous verdict on the charge Gilmore evaded income taxes in 2013, 2014, 2015. Federal authorities alleged he evaded $1.5 million in income taxes and penalties.

Gilmore had faced up to 30 years in prison on the loan falsification conviction, and up to five years on each count of the payroll taxes, along with fines. U.S. District Court Judge Anne E. Thompson presided over Gilmore's trial and also sentenced the former attorney to three years of supervised release.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected four separate claims raised by Gilmore.

It agreed with the government that the trial judge properly excluded expert psychiatric testimony supporting Gilmore’s claim that a "hoarding" disorder made him spend lavishly on personal expenses rather than make timely payments to the IRS. Gilmore contended the psychiatrist's testimony would have negated his intent to commit the charged tax crimes. The court also rejected Gilmore's challenges to the jury instructions and sufficiency of evidence.

In the wake of his conviction, Gilmore was forced to resign from his position as chairman of the Ocean County Republican Party, a position he'd held since 1996, and additionally resigned from his seat as head of the Ocean County Board of Elections.

Gilmore had long been viewed as one of the most powerful political bosses in New Jersey, even serving on Chris Christie's transition team when Christie was elected governor of New Jersey in 2009. Even after he resigned as the Ocean County GOP chairman, Gilmore's influence has continued to be felt in political circles, including in connection with a political action committee set up after Frank Holman was elected Ocean County Republican Party chairman over Gilmore's choice, Frank Sadeghi.

U.S. District Court Judge Anne E. Thompson, who presided over Gilmore's trial in April 2019, also sentenced the former attorney to three years of supervised release.

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