BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — A former Hackensack Public Schools teacher has been sentenced to five years in state prison for defrauding friends and colleagues of more than $300,000 through a long-running investment scam, according to court records.
Suzette Hart, 59, of Oradell, pleaded guilty in August to second-degree theft by deception and was sentenced last week in New Jersey Superior Court. Records show she was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.
At the time of her arrest in October 2020, Hart was earning an annual salary of $115,440 as a teacher with Hackensack Public Schools. Her profile has since been removed from the district’s website.
According to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Hart solicited money from multiple investors—many of them friends and colleagues—by promising access to high-yield, reputable investment opportunities that she knew were fraudulent.
Between 2012 and 2017, Hart collected more than $300,000 in supposed investments, which she instead spent on personal expenses without conducting any legitimate investment activity.
Authorities began investigating after receiving complaints from victims in May 2019, and Hart was arrested the following year.
The prosecutor’s office said the case serves as a reminder to verify all investment opportunities and to remain cautious—even when offers come from trusted acquaintances.
