Former Commissioner Faces Tax Fraud Charges | Jersey News

Jersey City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 26, 2026 · 1m

Former county commissioner William Hayden is back in court facing felony tax evasion charges after falsely claiming veteran status on a 2019 tax return—despite never serving in the military. The disputed $382 tax credit sparked a major scandal when he also misrepresented himself as a wounded Navy SEAL during his campaign, leading to his political downfall and censure. Now pleading not guilty, Hayden’s lawyer seeks to dismiss the original charges, but the judge has ordered new arguments. A pretrial intervention offer remains on the table, though rejected earlier. With potential prison time of…