Ex-Jersey City Official Asks For Prison Term Delay

CBS 3 ^ | July 26, 2010 | AP story

[smokingfrog]

A judge is considering whether to allow the former deputy mayor of Jersey City to remain free on bail while she appeals her conviction on corruption charges.

Leona Beldini is due to report to federal prison Aug. 2 to serve a three-year term.

Her lawyer argued Monday in a Newark federal court that the jury was not properly instructed on some of the charges.

Beldini, a Democrat, was among 44 people arrested last July in New Jersey's largest federal corruption sting.

She was convicted at trial accepting $20,000 in illegal donations from an undercover informant posing as a developer. She was acquitted on more serious extortion charges.

[Psalm 144]

“Beldini, a Democrat . . .”

Motion granted!

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Jersey City = Detroit of the East Coast.

[samtheman]

Her conviction was totally unfair. If she had known in advance that the person offering her the $20k bribe was an undercover agent there’s no WAY she would have accepted that money!

[pyx]

Beldini, a Democrat ... was convicted at trial

I'm shocked ! < /sarcasm >

[Tainan]

For some context:

Clockwise from top left: Leaving federal court in Newark on Thursday, Peter Cammarano, mayor of Hoboken (center); Dennis Elwell, mayor of Secaucus (left); Leona Beldini, deputy mayor of Jersey City (right). F.B.I. agents leading arrested individuals from their headquarters in Newark.

"The arrest of 44 people last Thursday in New Jersey — including three mayors, two state assemblymen and other public officials — on corruption charges seemed only to confirm the stereotype of New Jersey as one of the most corrupt states in the nation. It didn’t help that Wayne Bryant, former chairman of the New Jersey State Senate’s powerful Budget Committee, was sentenced on Friday to 4 years in prison on 12 counts of bribery and fraud."
linky dinky
Whats Up With New Jersey?

[Steely Tom]

Leona Beldini, COME ON DOWN!!