Posted on 03/15/2009 5:13:44 AM PDT by Reeses
Former Irvington Mayor Michael Steele rejected a final plea deal from the state Attorney General Friday and will now stand trial in October for allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in kickbacks while he was business administrator for the local board of education.
Steele, 53, is accused of working with two contractors to inflate prices and of accepting at least $120,000 in kickbacks in two separate schemes between 2003 and 2007. The state has charged him with nine counts, including official misconduct, pattern of official misconduct and bribery.
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But if he were to enter a guilty plea, "his entire pension, his entire body of work ... would be for naught," Till said.
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The first scheme involved a Florida-based janitorial supplies contractor, who paid Steele $120,000 in return for his ordering $900,000 worth of cleaning supplies, the state has said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Former Irvington Mayor Michael Steele appears in court, with his attorney Peter W. Till, relating to charges of rigging contracts and kickbacks when he worked for the township's board of education.
It's not indicated which person is the defendant and which is the lawyer. I guess the newspaper assumes it goes without saying.
Phonetically appropriate last name.
Regardless of his “Dem” association, wondering how many will register mentally the name “Michael Steele”, and associate it with the wrong “Michael Steele”?
A corrupt Jersey politician - how novel.
For those of you Freepers who are not from NJ this is literally a daily occurrence. This state is disgusting in it;s corruption. Politicians on every level rob the place blind.Our governor just gave a speech telling us how the state is broke again and they need more money. If he stopped the corruption and double dipping this state would be floating in money. The real problem is that NJ is pathetically Democratic , always has been . They reelect these bastards as they walk out of jail sometimes.A cardboard cut out could run for office in nj and win as long as it had a (D) next to its name.
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