New Jersey school custodian pleads guilty to contaminating food with bodily fluids and cleaner

TRENTON, NJ– A New Jersey man who worked as a school custodian pleaded guilty to charges that he put bodily fluids and cleaning products in food intended for children and staff to eat and that he applied cooking utensils to his genitals, authorities said Tuesday.

Giovanni Impellizzeri, 27, of Vineland, New Jersey, was working as a custodian for the Upper Deerfield Township School District in 2023 when authorities became aware of videos he recorded himself contaminating food and utensils, according to the District Attorney’s Office Cumberland County. He then shared the videos online, officials said.

He pleaded guilty on Monday to an official misconduct charge and to possession of child sexual abuse material. Authorities said they discovered the material while investigating the videos.

A message seeking comment was left with his attorney on behalf of Impellizzeri on Wednesday.

When provincial health officials first became aware of the allegations in 2023, they said the fluids were unlikely to cause health problems, although it is unclear how they determined that.

An attorney representing some of the school district’s families told WPVI they were considering a lawsuit against school officials.