Former Cumberland Co. janitor sentenced for tainting school cafeteria food with bodily fluids

UPPER DEERFIELD, N.J. (WPVI) -- A former Cumberland County janitor apologized Friday during his sentencing hearing for contaminating food with bodily fluids at a school cafeteria in Upper Deerfield.

"I would like to apologize for my actions, there's no excuse for it. I feel very bad about it. I wish I could go back in time and not do it, but it's done now, and I realize I have to pay for it," said Giovanni Impellizzeri in court.

Despite the apology, the judge sentenced him to eight years in prison.

Impellizzeri admitted to using saliva, urine and feces to contaminate food products and utensils at the Elizabeth Moore School in 2023.

The food was consumed by students and staff.

The judge considered statements from the superintendent, as well as the emotional words from a mother of a student at that school, in the sentencing.

"I believe he should get the maximum sentence possible," one mother said. "He should sit in jail for years to think about how he has impacted each of those children walking in that building."

The school superintendent said this case shook the school community.

"What our students, our staff, and parents, and our children had to endure is unconscionable, and we cannot change what happened," said Upper Deerfield School Superintendent Peter Koza.

In addition to fines, Impellizeri will have supervised parole for the rest of his life.