Dr. Claudio V. Cerullo, a prominent figure in anti-bullying advocacy, has been charged with retail theft following an incident at a Boscov’s store in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The 56-year-old founder of the Teach Anti-Bullying nonprofit organization was charged with a summary offense after being accused of shoplifting items from the store on October 3, 2023.
According to court documents, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Joseph Sivo responded to a report of retail theft around 10:20 a.m. on the day of the incident. Store staff indicated that a white male wearing blue pants, a white hat, and a Dallas Cowboys jacket had taken several items and left without paying. The suspect reportedly drove away in a blue Jeep.
Troopers located the vehicle at the registered address of Cerullo, where they found him wearing clothing matching the suspect’s description. Surveillance footage from the store confirmed his identity, leading to a single charge of retail theft filed in Middletown Magisterial District Court.
Cerullo initially denied any involvement when contacted by phone, but his wife, Daniela Cerullo, intervened, asserting that the situation was a case of mistaken identity. She emphasized that the matter is still under investigation.
Cerullo’s attorney, Alex Giribaldi, has stated that he has yet to receive any discovery related to the case but expects that further evidence will clarify the situation. “We believe that once the facts come out, it will show that Mr. Cerullo was wrongfully accused and mistakes occurred,” Giribaldi explained. He noted that the accusation involves a Phillies or Steve Madden hat and suggested that Cerullo’s ethnicity might have influenced the circumstances of the case.
While the police report classified Cerullo as a white, non-Hispanic male, Giribaldi indicated that his client may have been mistaken for someone of Hispanic descent.
The case is set to be presented before District Judge Walter A. Strohl, although no court date has been established as of now. Cerullo, who has gained recognition for his contributions to school safety and mental health initiatives, was recently nominated to the National School Violence and Mental Health Task Force.
As the legal proceedings unfold, both supporters and critics of Cerullo will be watching closely to see how this situation develops.
