New Jersey - Corruption and Scandal BUMP LIST

Various ^ | 2000 - 2005 | Various

[Calpernia]

Police Officers Steal From Police Department
10/25/2000

A former West New York police sergeant pleaded guilty today, admitting his role in a scheme to steal approximately $60,000 seized by police during the investigation of a fire in West New York, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Cleary announced.

Ronald Riccie, 58, of Little Ferry, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle to a one-count Information, charging him with participating with other West New York Police officers in the theft of the $60,000.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/releases/2000/ri1025_r.html

Eminent Domain Squabble
02/22/2003

Rowan University and Wal-Mart squabbled over 102 acres of land. Last fall, Rowan sued American Continental Properties to acquire the property via the state-granted power of eminent domain. The state's need for higher education, school officials said, was greater than the benefit of another big-box store. But Wal-Mart was triumphant. The decision was a victory for Wal-Mart and its developer, American Continental Properties, which has received approval to build a store at the intersection of Routes 322 and 55.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/education/5237883.htm

Extortion Payoff to Assembly Speaker
01/06/2004

Lourdes Adan-Abreu, one of ten co-defendants and wife of indicted Hudson County businessman Rene Abreu, pleads guilty to defrauding the Internal Revenue Service.

In opening arguments at the federal fraud and corruption trial of Hudson developer Rene Abreu, a federal prosecutor says the evidence includes a secret recording in which the developer and others discuss extortion payoffs from a gambling racket to Assembly Speaker Albio Sires after Sires became Mayor of West New York. Sires denies any wrongdoing.

http://www.edmecka.com/lourdes_abreu.html

Detective Steals From Own Police Department
01/06/2004

Detective Norman Price, his wife, and a friend, has been charged with stealing by the police department. Detective Hand oversaw equipment purchases and created shell companies to provide equipment at grossly inflated prices. The Detective and his cohorts pocketed $106,000 out of the total of $198,000 in purchases.

Treffinger Serving 13 Month Sentence
01/09/2004

Former Essex County Executive James Treffinger began serving a 13-month prison term after admitting that he used county funds to pay Republican campaign workers and by obstructing a federal probe into his campaign finances.

http://politicsnj.com/murphy042802_divincenzo.htm

County Funds Used to Pay Republican Campaign Workers
01/12/2004

The Mayor of Hainesport, Ronald Corn, embezzled more than $339,000 from public accounts to pay for golf outings, parties, meals and expenses in cahoots with the township finance director, Kristine Wisnewski. Both agreed to leave office and make restitution to the city. On April 8, 2004, he was sentenced to five years in prison for diverting $339,000 to a secret "mayor's account.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/corn0112.htm

Selling Driver’s Licenses
01/16/2004

An employee of the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) pleads guilty to conspiring to unlawfully produce driver's licenses, admitting she received between $100 and $200 per bogus license. Linda Love and Sheilina D. Moore are among at least a dozen government employees at MVC offices in Mount Holly and Springfield who admit to federal charges related to separate investigations.

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/press/archives/2003/110503.htm

Smuggling Contraband to Prisoners
01/23/2004

Corrections officers Vincenzo Perricone and James Dowd were indicted on charges of bribery, official misconduct and theft for allegedly smuggling contraband to prisoners in the Burlington County Jail in exchange for cash payments.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/dowd0126.htm

Newark International – Security – Hiring Criminals
02/02/2004

A state grand jury indicted John D'Agostino, president of Newark-based Haynes Security Inc., for bribery, theft and conspiracy for allegedly hiring criminals to guard Newark Liberty International Airport and other sites.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/haynes0203.htm

Mayor Convicted of Filing False Tax Returns
02/03/2004

The former Mayor of Asbury Park, Kenneth "Butch" Saunders, pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns for 1997, 1999 and 2000. The plea comes six weeks after a federal jury convicts Saunders and an aide, Rayfield James, Jr., of conspiring to bribe a council member for her vote on the town's billion-dollar redevelopment plan.

A federal judge sends former Asbury Park mayor "Butch" Saunders prison for 33 months for conspiring to bribe a council member.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/sa0402_r.htm

Attorney General Fined for Accepting Gratuities
02/10/2004

The state ethics commission fined Attorney General Peter Harvey $1,500 for accepting free ringside seats from boxing promoters for his wife and two other guests. Harvey is the first attorney general sanctioned by the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards since it was created 31 years ago. He also is the first Cabinet official it has fined since 1997.

Democratic Campaign Treasurer Conceals Source of Funds
02/18/2004

A Gloucester County judge finds West Deptford Democratic campaign treasurer Daniel Wilson guilty of concealing $100,000 in campaign contributions from JCA Associates, a Moorestown engineering firm that earned millions in town contracts. Three JCA executives had pleaded guilty to concealing the contributions.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/wilson0217.htm

Township Administrator Steers Contract to Relatives
02/18/2004

Former New Hanover Township Administrator James J. Nash is sentenced to three months in prison for participating in a scheme to steer a federally funded Board of Education contract to a relative of the town's former mayor.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/nash0218_r.htm

McGreevey - Extortion - Mark Halper in Piscataway
03/02/2004

David D’Amaino, a business and fundraiser for the disgraced ex-Governor James McGreevey, was charged with extortion when he offered to intercede with county officials for $40,000 to get a higher price for Mark Halper’s property.

http://www.injersey.com/app/story/0,21625,997871,00.html

State Worker Illegally Collects Unemployment Insurance
03/10/2004

The state Division of Criminal Justice charges state worker Yvette Wright with illegally collecting unemployment insurance benefits after an investigation determines she collected benefits while working as a clerk for the state.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/unemployment0310.htm

Chief of Staff Helps Company Win Lucrative Contracts
03/11/2004

Harry G. Parkin, former chief of staff of the Mercer County Executive's Office, is indicted on charges he used his office to help a recycling company win county contracts. Federal prosecutors say Parkin had a secret financial stake in the company.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/park0311_r.htm

Board Chairman Gives Out Free Boxing Passes
03/17/2004

State Athletic Control Board Chairman Gerard Gormley agrees with the state ethics commission to resign and pay $14,000 in fines to settle charges he improperly gave out 227 free passes to professional boxing matches over two years.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=1946193

Insurance Adjuster Torches Claims
03/19/2004

Marc Rossi, an insurance adjuster who once worked as an investigator for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, is sentenced to eight years in prison for leading an arson-for-profit ring that netted more than $500,000. Rossi ran the scheme while he owned Rossi Adjustment Services, a Trenton-based insurance claims consulting firm.

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/newsreleases03/pr20031110a.html

Executive Director Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges
03/22/2004

The former executive director of the Delaware River & Bay Authority pleads guilty to federal fraud charges. Michael E. Harkins admits billing tens of thousands of dollars in personal expenses - from private jets to limo rides - to the authority and then trying to cover up the expenses.

http://www.delawaregrapevine.com/8-04harkins.asp

Council Chairman Solicits Bribes
03/25/2004

The FBI arrests East Orange City Council Chairman Zachary Turner and a friend, Barry Turner, on charges they conspired to solicit bribes. The councilman allegedly demanded $20,000 from one contractor seeking to resolve a property dispute with the city.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/turn0623_r.htm

Treasurer Forced To Resign
04/02/2004

Daniel Wilson, the former treasurer of the West Deptford municipal election campaign committee, is ordered to resign and is banned from all future government employment during sentencing. Wilson also is sentenced to four years of probation and must pay a $2,500 fine.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/wilson0402.htm

Conspiracy to Pad Bills
04/19/2004

A Trenton contractor pleads guilty to conspiring to defraud the Mercer County Improvement Authority. Michael Maurio admits he planned with owners of a demolition company to add $100,000 to the bill for projects they completed for the authority. Maurio's take was $26,000.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/maur0419_r.htm

Customs Agent Takes Bribes
04/23/2004

A U.S. customs officer admits taking $4,000 in bribes from a federal immigration inspector who smuggled more than 100 Indian nationals into the country at Newark Airport. Terence Walden also agrees to testify against the inspector, Otis Rackley, if he goes to trial.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/wald0424_r.htm

JCA Associates Banned From Future School Contracts
04/30/2004

JCA Associates, a politically connected South Jersey engineering firm that was implicated in a scheme to hide illegal campaign contributions, is barred from working on the state's school construction program for five years. The Schools Construction Corp. moved to prohibit the Moorestown company and five officers from participating in the $8.6 billion school construction program. The company already had been awarded five contracts worth $8.9 million.

The president and two executives plead guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns to conceal illegal campaign contributions.

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/corruption/stories/20050105sl_corruption.html

Mob Boss Extorts School Funds
05/03/2004

Reputed Gambino crime-family associate James DiModica pleads guilty to charges he demanded cash payments from a Monmouth County construction firm so the company could do business on a North Jersey school construction project.

State Workers Illegally Collect Unemployment Insurance
05/07/2004

Two state employees are charged with illegally collecting thousands of dollars in unemployment insurance benefits. Patricia Mitchell, who worked at Greystone Psychiatric Hospital in Morris County, is accused of failing to report earnings to the Department of Labor while receiving $7,072 in unemployment benefits. Lashawn Peterson, while working at the New Jersey Department of Corrections as a communications operator, allegedly failed to report to his job while collecting $7,360 in benefits.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/unemployment050704.htm

Detective Convicted of Taking Kickbacks
05/24/2004

Frank D'Agosta, a veteran Jersey City police detective, gets a 13-month prison term for taking kickbacks from a gambling ring in Hudson County.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/dag0524_r.htm

Vice-President Convicted of Hiring Family Members
06/04/2004

Lesly Devereaux, VP of the State Commerce Commission, leaves office while under investigation for hiring family members as consultants. Devereaux also served as chief of staff to Commerce Secretary William Watley, pastor of St. James AME Church in Newark.

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/corruption/stories/0722_watley.html

Air Conditioning Installer Convicted of Bribing Officials
06/14/2004

Leonard Farinola, a heating and air-conditioning installer who became an FBI cooperating witness, gets three months in prison for bribing officials in North Bergen Township. Farinola faced more than two years in jail, but won leniency after secretly recording 60 conversations with public officials that helped put three in jail.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/au0711_r.htm

Newark Security Companies and Police Agencies Conspire
06/15/2004

State authorities raid two Newark hotels and the home of an Essex County sheriff's officer as part of an investigation into Joseph G. Marini's unlicensed security firm. The probe of All Phase is part of a wider inquiry into the business practices of Newark-area security companies and their connections to local police agencies.

Chief Financial Officer Files False Tax Returns
06/21/2004

The former acting chief financial officer and director of finance for Irvington is indicted on charges of filing false federal income tax returns for 1995 through 1998. The case against Earl Haugabrook grew out of the same investigation that led to the conviction of former mayor Sara Bost.

http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/usaopress/2004/txdv04haug0621_r.htm

Developer Convicted of Payoffs
06/22/2004

Hudson County developer Joseph Barry pleads guilty to paying $114,900 to former County Executive Robert Janiszewski. Prosecutors call it a payoff, but Barry calls it a "reward" for Janiszewski's help getting government funding for Barry's signature project, the Shipyard in Hoboken.

http://www.edmecka.com/byrn_pleads.html

Police Chief Paid In Gambling Kickbacks
06/23/2004

The former police chief of West New York testifies he paid $2,000 a week in gambling kickbacks to businessman Abreu, a key aide of Assembly Speaker Albio Sires in West New York. The chief, Alexander Oriente, recalls seeing Abreu scrawl words on a napkin to ask about kickbacks police had been collecting from prostitution and illegal gambling rackets. Oriente himself served a four-year prison term for racketeering.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/mi0930_r.htm

State Employee Collects Unemployment Insurance
06/24/2004

Authorities charge a state employee with collecting more than $18,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. An indictment alleges John M. Andre collected benefits while working for the Department of Human Services.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/unemployment_0624.htm

Probation Officer Writes Bad Checks/Threatens to Kill Witness
06/24/2004

A former Gloucester County probation officer, Rene Bradley-Williams, and her son are charged by state authorities with issuing more that $500,000 in bad checks to purchase luxury automobiles and threatening to kill a witness questioned by law enforcement investigators.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/bradley_williams_0624.htm

Freeholder Extorts County Psychiatrist
06/29/2004

Hudson County Freeholder William C. Braker, a veteran police officer, admits he extorted $3,000 from a psychiatrist who hoped to keep counseling contracts for the county prisons. Prosecutors claimed Braker also demanded Viagra from the doctor.

http://www.edmecka.com/braker_pleads.html

Eminent Domain Used to Increase Town’s Tax Base
06/29/2004

Hundreds of residents were forced to pack their belongings to make way for the private development of luxury homes and apartments under the powers of Eminent Domain, which of course the displaced residents could not afford. This new development provides a higher tax base for the city.

http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/News/2004/0723/Letters/

Immigration Inspector Smuggles Undocumented Immigrants
06/30/2004

Otis Rackley, the immigration inspector, admits smuggling scores of undocumented immigrants into the country at Newark Liberty International Airport, some just weeks after the 9/11 attacks. Rackley took $5,000 in cash to escort the travelers, mostly Indian nationals, past immigration checkpoints. In two years, he and conspirators raked in as much as $1 million.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/wald0424_r.htm

Developer Charged With Witness Intimidation
07/13/2004

Charles Kushner, developer, philanthropist and prominent donor for state Democrats and McGreevey, is charged with witness intimidation and other counts. The indictment says Kushner lured a cooperating FBI witness - his sister's husband - into a videotaped tryst with a prostitute, then later sent a tape of the encounter to his sister. The charges come 15 months after federal investigators opened an inquiry into Kushner's financial affairs and political contributions.

http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/people/features/9874/

Secretary Resigns Over Ethics Allegations
07/14/2004

Stung by ethics allegations and with his agency under criminal investigation, State Commerce Secretary William Watley resigns. The announcement comes as investigators return to the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission to seize more hard drives as part of a widening corruption probe.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_071404_commercesecretery.html

Corrections Officers Smuggle Contraband to Prisoners
07/16/2004

One former corrections officer is sentenced to prison and another is given probation for smuggling contraband to prisoners in the Burlington County Jail. James H. Dowd is ordered to serve three years in state prison and ordered to pay $700 restitution. Vincenzo A. Perricone is sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay $200. Both are banned from any public employment.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/dowd0126.htm

Employee Selling Genuine Social Security Cards
07/16/2004

An employee of the U.S. Social Security Administration Office in Trenton pleads guilty to participating in a scheme to sell genuine Social Security cards to illegal immigrants. Rebecca Rivera Asencio admits conspiring with two middlemen to sell cards for $1,500 or more.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/asen0716_r.htm

Bagman Provides Bribes for County Contracts
07/19/2004

Paul Byrne, childhood pal and reputed bagman for former Hudson County Executive Robert Janiszewski, admits passing bribes to Janiszewski from an accountant with county contracts. His plea ends a two-year string of graft investigations in the county that also toppled the once-powerful executive, two elected freeholders and two contractors.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/byrn0719_r.htm

Administrator Embezzles Federal Housing Subsidies
07/29/2004

A former assistant administrator with the Perth Amboy Housing Authority is arrested and charged with embezzling more than $400,000 in federal housing subsidies. Miladys Gomez was responsible for printing and issuing federal housing subsidy checks to landlords on behalf of Section 8 aid recipients.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/gome0729_r.htm

Clerical Worker Steals From Division of Taxation
07/30/2004

A former clerical worker is sentenced to seven years in state prison for stealing more than $81,000 from the Division of Taxation. Michael A. Johnson also is permanently barred from holding future public employment.

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/newsreleases03/pr20031008d.html

Crook Extorts From Illegal Gambling Operations
08/04/2004

A federal jury convicts Rene Abreu of mortgage fraud but deadlocks on whether he used political ties to extort thousands of dollars from illegal gambling operators.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/ab0508_r.htm

Rogue Cops Shake Down Drug Dealers and Prostitutes
08/23/2004

Authorities publicly acknowledge their investigation into allegations that rogue cops in Newark have been shaking down drug dealers and prostitutes, reselling confiscated drugs and selling guns. Officials say the joint state/city investigation has been ongoing since the spring.

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/351/newark.shtml

Englewood Officials Conspire to Create False Public Records
09/08/2004

Englewood's municipal court judge, police chief and a ranking police officer are indicted for allegedly conspiring to create false public records so a county prison inmate could be improperly released from custody to attend a funeral. A state grand jury indictment charges Judge Joseph M. Clark, Chief David Bowman and Sgt. Emma Jackson with tampering with public records or information and falsifying or tampering with records.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/july_dec/printer/englewood0910printer.htm

Worker Sells Genuine Identification Papers
09/15/2004

State police arrest a worker at the Newark motor vehicle office for helping an illegal immigrant get identification papers. Monica Hancock is charged with conspiracy, official misconduct and tampering with public records. The bust comes less than two years after state officials cracked down on corruption at the office by firing all 10 workers and replacing them with new employees.

Cop Shakes Down Drug Dealers
09/24/2004

Newark police officer Tyrone Dudley pleads guilty to charges he shook down drug dealers. The plea is part of a widening state investigation targeting corruption and other illegal activities by Newark police officers. As part of the guilty plea, Dudley forfeits his public position as a police officer and agrees to cooperate with the investigation.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/july_dec/corruption_1119.htm

Executive Director Convicted of Kickbacks and Bribery
09/24/2004

The former executive director of the Mercer County Improvement Authority pleads guilty to kickback and bribery schemes. Among other things, James R. Lambert Sr. admits conspiring to pay an unnamed public official $150,000 for his vote on public contracts.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/lamb0924_r.htm

Cop Sells Cocaine Out of House
09/29/2004

Authorities charge Newark police officer Brandy Johnson with selling cocaine out of her Newark home.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/july_dec/johnson_0930.htm

Mayor Extorts Kickbacks From Accounting Firm
09/29/2004

Former Hoboken mayor Anthony Russo admits in federal court that he extorted thousands of dollars in kickbacks from an accounting firm working for the city. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Russo faces between 24 and 30 months in prison.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/russ0929_r.htm

Cops Shake Down Drug Dealers
10/01/2004

Authorities charge two more Newark police officers, Darius Smith and Lawrence Furlow, with shaking down and stealing cash from drug dealers and planting drugs on innocent victims to cover their actions.

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/releases/2004/july_dec/dudley092404.htm

Newark PD Issues Call To Report Graft
10/06/2004

In the wake of corruption charges against several officers, the Newark Police Department issues a call for citizens to report graft by calling a toll-free hotline. Officials are inundated with calls.

Developer Payoff to County Executive
10/21/2004

Prominent developer Joseph Barry is sentenced to 25 months in prison for passing $115,000 in payoffs to Janiszewski. Under questioning from the judge, Barry says he didn't plan to bribe Janiszewski, but felt obliged after the executive helped him win federal and state grants. "He said he needed the money and I gave him the money."

http://www.edmecka.com/barry_pleads_ag.html

Clerk Steals Customer Payments
10/26/2004

Former Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) – clerk Jarmaine Ravenell pleads guilty to stealing more than $1,000 in customer payments while employed at the Bakers Basin facility in Mercer County. Ravenell is among 91 people, including 13 former MVC employees, prosecuted since late 2003 by the Division of Criminal Justice's MVC Document Fraud Initiative.

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/jerseycity/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1103721084310250.xml

County official Sells Bogus Birth Certificates
10/28/2004

A former Hudson County official admits helping create bogus birth certificates for sale to illegal immigrants. Jean Anderson pleads guilty after a long-running probe by the FBI and U.S. State Department into a wave of fraudulent birth certificates issued in Hudson County.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/ande1028_r.htm

Township Official Arrested on Bribery Charges
10/29/2004

FBI agents arrest a Marlboro Township official on bribery charges. Prosecutors say Richard Vuola offered about $150,000 in campaign funds to a Marlboro Township Council member for the official's vote on a development proposal.

http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/usaopress/2004/txdv04vuol1029_r.htm

Oceanport Man Indicted on FBI obstruction Charges
11/19/2004

An Oceanport man is accused of trying to blow the cover off an FBI corruption probe in Monmouth County. Agents arrest Frank Calandrino after he is indicted on obstruction charges. Prosecutors say Calandrino was working as an undercover FBI witness in May 2003 when he secretly tipped off the subject of a corruption probe to the fact that agents were recording their conversation.

http://www.app.com/app/story/0,21625,990333,00.html

Assemblyman Misappropriates Campaign Funds
11/19/2004

Assemblyman Anthony Impreveduto pleads guilty to state charges of misappropriating and diverting thousands of dollars in campaign funds to pay personal expenses. He also agrees to resign.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/july_dec/impreveduto_1119.htm

Probation Officer Collects Unemployment Benefits
11/22/2004

State authorities charge a Monmouth County probation officer with illegally collecting unemployment insurance benefits. Maxine Kantrowitzis is accused of filing for UI benefits despite working as an investigator for the Monmouth County Probation Office.

http://www.njdcj.org/releases/2004/july_dec/unemployment_1122.htm

Mayor Freed After Witness Tampering Sentence
11/29/2004

Former Irvington mayor Sara Bost is freed from prison after serving almost one year for witness tampering. Most of her term was spent at the women's federal prison camp in Alderson, W.Va., the same camp that welcomed Martha Stewart this year.

Eminent Domain Reversal
12/1/2004

The government proposed to oust five businesses and four private homes to make way for a new police station. The citizens rose up and forced the township committee to reverse the decision.

Vice-President Indicted with Relatives
12/06/2004

Following an eight-month investigation by Attorney General Peter Harvey, the former vice president of the State Commerce Commission is indicted along with her sister and 65-yearold mother for conspiring to funnel state money through no show jobs and falsifying records to cover up the scam. Lesly Devereaux, longtime adviser to the Rev. William Watley, the former commerce secretary, is charged with 16 counts of public corruption that includes official misconduct, conspiracy and theft.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/columnists/cxin121304a.htm

Councilman Avoids Drunk Driving Arrest
12/07/2004

Edison Councilman William Kruczak announces he will quit Jan. 31 as part of a deal with the Attorney General's Office that will close its investigation into whether he attempted to use his position to avoid a drunken-driving arrest. Under the deal, Kruczak also will plead guilty in municipal court to driving while under the influence and refusing to submit to chemical breath testing.

http://ems.gmnews.com/News/2004/0901/Front_Page

Taxpayer’s Pay for Ex-Governor’s Defense
12/17/2004

Acting Governor Codey's office announces that McGreevey's troubles cost taxpayers nearly $159,000 in legal bills.

http://www.nj.com/news/gloucester/local/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1103361309119850.xml

Paterson School Director Admits Graft
02/17/05

The former director of Paterson School Districts’ custodial and maintenance services, Louis Milone, has pleaded guilty to charges that he accepted two free Caribbean cruises, valued at more than $10,000, in exchange for looking the other way for inspecting work done by a contractor.

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-8/1108704647203020.xml?starledger?nnj

[nw_arizona_granny]

Wow, an amazing roundup of crooks and all in New Jersey.

Cal,

You put in a lot of work on this thread.......

It is not a surprise that we may have cells of terrorists with fake but real ID's.

And to think, it is happening in every state.

[TexasCowboy]

People will sell their souls for a house payment.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1352768/posts

Newark can't resist the mayor's parties
February 27, 2005

Every year on his birthday, Newark Mayor Sharpe James holds a political fund-raiser that brings in thousands of dollars -- much of it from municipal employees. Last Thursday, in the midst of a snowstorm, the mayor's annual gala brought out more than 1,000 people who paid $500 each to party in a cavernous ballroom wrapped in red, white and blue at the Robert Treat Hotel. The mayor's wife, mother and three sons were there. So was acting Gov. Richard Codey, city council members, local politicians, as well as scores of developers and others who do business in Newark.

[BroncosFan]

Too funny. Sad, but Sopranos funny.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1352740/posts
Smiling Through the Storm

Camden--WAYNE R. BRYANT, a longtime Democratic state senator, has been getting the sort of attention that most politicians would be happy to do without.

The Courier-Post, a local newspaper widely read in his Camden-area district, recently called him the "king of double dipping," and an influential Web site, politicsnj.com, has taken to introducing articles about him with the words "oink, oink."

Meanwhile, Mr. Bryant has been singled out in news media accounts statewide as one of the chief stumbling blocks in the failed attempt earlier this month to pass a state law placing limits on the awarding of public contracts to political donors.

Perhaps most remarkable about this storm of criticism, though, is how little Mr. Bryant seems to care. His reaction to the mention of one graphic representation of him on the Web brought a broad smile

[Calpernia]

Convicted Camden Counseling Center CEO Sentenced to Prison for $138,000 Insurance Fraud
January 24, 2005

TRENTON - Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced that the former owner and chief executive officer of a now-defunct Camden mental health counseling center has been sentenced to state prison after being convicted of submitting more than $137,900 in fraudulent bills to the Medicaid Program.

The Medicaid Program, which is funded by the state and federal governments, provides health care services and prescription drugs to persons who may not otherwise be able to afford such services and medicines. The State of New Jersey administers the Medicaid Program through the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services and through the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Section, which investigates both criminal and civil Medicaid fraud.

According to Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal Justice, and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden-Brown, Eliezer Martinez, 57, Arthur Avenue, Camden, former owner and chief executive officer of Hispanic Counseling Center and Family Services of New Jersey, Inc., Camden, was sentenced on Jan. 21 by Camden County Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Brown, Jr. to five years in state prison and was ordered to pay more than $275,900 in criminal fines and $137,900 in restitution. On Oct. 27, 2004, Martinez was convicted by a Camden County jury on charges contained in a May 31, 2002 State Grand Jury indictment filed by the Division of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor. The indictment charged Martinez with Health Care Claims Fraud (2nd degree) and Medicaid Fraud (3rd degree).

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/newsreleases05/pr20050124a.html

[Calpernia]

Corzine-Kushner group crunching numbers to make offer for Nets

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-4/106213538544380.xml

The Star-Ledger

Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) and real estate magnate Charles Kushner, leaders of a New Jersey investor group vying to buy the Nets, hunkered down yesterday with their lawyers, accountants and bankers to decide how much to offer for the team.

A principal owner of YankeeNets, which owns the basketball team, said the meetings in Morristown would continue through the Labor Day weekend. By the middle of next week, he said, the group would decide how much to pay and where the team would play its home games -- the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford or a proposed Newark arena.

[Calpernia]

Old Bridge official indicted on corruption charges

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_062150108.html

A state grand jury has indicted an Old Bridge Township official on corruption charges, alleging he solicited and received thousands of dollars in goods and services from developers doing business with the township.

Barry C. Bowers, the community's engineering inspector, was charged with official misconduct and accepting unlawful benefits as a public servant, the state Attorney General's office said Thursday.

[Clemenza]

What about that police Chief of North Bergen who issued a "hands-off" order for the hooker hotels on Tonelle Avenue, in exchange for some "hands on" activity from the workin' girls.

There used to be a site dedicated to corruption in North Bergen (historically run by the DeCalvacante family) online, but it misteriously disappeared.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1192415/posts

FBI adds Touro College to extortion probe (sex-blackmail, gay guv, Torricelli connection)
STAR LEDGER ^ | 8/16/04 | JOSH MARGOLIN


Posted on 08/16/2004 8:29:51 AM EDT by Liz


(Touro's) board members include politically connected developer Charles Kushner, and other prominent New Jersey developers and businessmen.......and plans to build a medical school in Livingston and enlisted former Sen. Robert Torricelli as its consultant on that project........ Golan Cipel was helping Touro with its medical school plans, and now federal investigators have made Touro part of their probe into the sex-and-blackmail scandal that last week all but ended the political career of Gov. James E. McGreevey.

The FBI is reviewing allegations that Cipel's attorneys asked McGreevey's administration to help fast-track the Manhattan-based college's application to open what would be the only private medical school in New Jersey.

Touro's attorney yesterday said college officials "are confounded" by the allegations and disavowed any role in the scandal. "Those statements were never authorized and we were unaware of them until we read them in the newspapers," said the college's lawyer, Franklyn Snitow.

In addition to Cipel, the medical school plan has brought together Kushner and Torricelli, two other controversial figures in Democratic politics.

Kushner, who has been charged with obstructing a separate federal investigation, is a Touro board member. He also had arranged with Touro officials to largely bankroll the creation of the medical school in his hometown of Livingston and, in return, hoped to see the institution named after his mother, Rae, who recently died..................

Torricelli, who did not seek re-election after being admonished in an ethics scandal, is representing Touro in its push for a medical school. Snitow said Torricelli was enlisted as "we prepare ourselves to go through the process."

Torricelli aide Sean Jackson said Torricelli is "providing general advice, fund-raising strategy and advice about opening a medical school."

[Calpernia]

Hiya Clemenza!

Do you have a link? Or the Police Officer's name so I can look it up?

Feel welcome to add info here. I am just making an attempt at organizing :)

[Calpernia]

http://wcbs880.com/njnews/NJ--ContributorCharge-jn/resources_news_html

Court suspends law license of troubled Democratic contributor
Thursday March 03, 2005
By MATT SMITH
Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) A midlevel state appeals court Thursday suspended the New York law license of a major New Jersey Democratic Party contributor who pleaded guilty last year to witness tampering and tax charges.

Charles B. Kushner will be prohibited from practicing law in New York under the decision by the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court. The motion to suspend Kushner's license was made by the state's Committee on Professional Standards.

Kushner is to be sentenced Friday in federal court in New Jersey for using a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law who was a witness in a federal probe that focused on Kushner's donations and business.

Kushner pleaded guilty in August to the witness tampering charge. In doing so, he also admitted sending a tape of the seduction to the man's wife Kushner's sister.

Kushner pleaded guilty as well to campaign finance violations and 16 counts of filing false tax returns for various partnerships affiliated with his company, avoiding up to $325,000 in taxes.

Since 1997, Kushner gave more than $1 million to Democrats and was the top donor to former New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey's successful gubernatorial campaign. The married McGreevey, whose administration was mired in its own scandals, resigned in November after admitting to a homosexual affair.

Kushner also donated funds in the past to New York Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and state Comptroller Alan Hevesi.

Kushner, 50, has been free on $5 million bail pending sentencing. He faces between 18 and 33 months in prison.

Following his guilty plea, Kushner resigned as chairman of The Kushner Companies, a firm valued at more than $1 billion that owns or manages 20,000 apartments in New Jersey and several other states. The company also builds new homes and has commercial properties throughout New York and New Jersey.

A call Kushner's attorney Robert Ray was not immediately returned.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1356228/posts

Corporate Exec Kushner Sentenced To 2 Years (massive bundling scam to DNC, Clintons, Torricelli)
POLITICAL MONEY LINE ^ | 3/4/05

Posted on 03/04/2005 4:37:18 PM EST by Liz


Charles Kushner

Charles Kushner, former chairman of Kushner Companies, a real estate and apartment owning/managing company in northern New Jersey and the Northeast, was sentenced on 3/4 to twenty-four months in prison and fined $40,000. He had been free on $5 million bail.

Kushner, a major fundraiser for Democrats, pleaded guilty in August to giving false statements to the FEC regarding $385,000 in political contributions he made from real estate partnerships without the permission of other partners, falsifying tax forms (16 counts), improperly listing $1 million in charitable contributions as business expenses, and shaving funds several hundred thousand dollars off taxes owed, and retaliating against his sister - a government witness.

Kushner had already paid the FEC a civil penalty of $508,900. The contributions were made in 1997-2000 and came from forty partnerships he controls. The recipients included 13 candidate committees, one party committee and one PAC.

Because federal law prohibits convicted felons from owning any interest in a bank, federal regulators forced the sale of Kushner-owned NorCrown Bank in New Jersey. On Nov. 11, Valley National Bancorp finalized a deal to buy NorCrown for $141 million. The Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp reached a settlement in February with Kushner and a trust fund requiring them to pay $12.5 million for not fully identifying all the persons connected to the family trust that owned the bank.

Kushner may also owe between $200,000 and $320,000 in back taxes.

PoliticalMoneyLine highlighted the Kushner bundles in its May 30, 2001, home page link.

See also DOJ press release on Kushner’s guilty plea (link).

Companies, partnerships & individuals connected to Charles J. Kushner (Kushner Companies) bundled over $1 million to federal candidates and the DNC in 1999-00.

[TexasTransplant]

Now that is a list!

Fellow Freepers, is there an existing list compiled for my good friends in Austin, cause I'm in a letter writing mood.
(Elected Crooks and Criminals of the Great State of Texas are expanding their greed and corruption with our State Sales Tax)

TT

[Calpernia]

Meekonegop has a number of bump lists as well as a Texas Ping list.

He may have something compiled.

[TexasTransplant]

Thank you

(Dan Rather move over, make room for a few more swelled headed insufferable do-gooders and know-it all politicos)

[TexasTransplant]

Thanks again, I will initiate late Saturday night contact in this manner.

Bump to TT, Bump to MeekONEGop, come in Meekone

[MeekOneGOP]

You've got Freepmail. :^D

bump!

[Calpernia]

Good morning!

And bump!