New Jersey Corruption Arrests: Three Mayors Taken Into Custody

[Beacool]

Huffington Post/AP
First Posted: 07-23-09

Dozens Arrested, Including Mayors And Rabbis, In Bizarre New Jersey Corruption Probe.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - An investigation into the sale of black-market kidneys and fake Gucci handbags evolved into a sweeping probe of political corruption in New Jersey, ensnaring more than 40 people Thursday, including three mayors, two state lawmakers and several rabbis.

Even for a state with a rich history of graft, the scale of wrongdoing alleged was breathtaking. An FBI official called corruption "a cancer that is destroying the core values of this state."

Federal prosecutors said the investigation initially focused on a money laundering network that operated between Brooklyn, N.Y.; Deal, N.J.; and Israel. The network is alleged to have laundered tens of millions of dollars through Jewish charities controlled by rabbis in New York and New Jersey.

Prosecutors then used an informant in that investigation to help them go after corrupt politicians. The informant -- a real estate developer charged with bank fraud three years ago -- posed as a crooked businessman and paid a string of public officials tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to get approvals for buildings and other projects in New Jersey, authorities said.

Among the 44 people arrested were the mayors of Hoboken, Ridgefield and Secaucus, Jersey City's deputy mayor, and two state assemblymen. A member of the governor's cabinet resigned after agents searched his home, though he was not arrested. All but one of the officeholders are Democrats.

Also, five rabbis from New York and New Jersey -- two of whom lead congregations in Deal -- were accused of laundering millions of dollars, some of it from the sale of counterfeit goods and bankruptcy fraud, authorities said.

In rounding up the defendants, FBI and IRS agents raided a synagogue Thursday morning in Deal, a wealthy oceanfront city of Mediterranean-style mansions, with a large population of Syrian Jews.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/23/new-jersey-corruption-arr_n_243407.html

I can't believe it!! The young guy in the pic of the video is my spanking new mayor. He's only been in office for 21 days and he's already been arrested. That's a record even for NJ!!!

To think that a little over 3 weeks ago every big shot in the state was in town for his inauguration. Damn thing is so embarrassing, news trucks are all over town. My only consolation is that I didn't vote for him. I supported his opponent, Dawn Zimmer (both are Dems). Well, she might yet get to be mayor after all.........

x(

[Orsino]

1. I don't know who should be more ashamed...

...a resident of a state where three mayors get arrested, or those of us in other states where they don't?

Here's wishing you less corruption. :thumbsup:

[Beacool]

4. I never liked the guy.

Just another yuppie who married some chick who lived in town. He's only 31 and was too closely affiliated with the last mayor. Roberts (the former mayor) never met a developer that he didn't like. Hoboken is only a square mile and chuck full of condominiums for the wealthy. Anybody who is NOT wealthy and still lives in town (people left in droves when they could no longer afford to rent or buy anything larger than a parking space) bought their property decades ago, rents from applied housing or is poor enough to qualify to live in the projects. This is a ubber yuppie town, my neighbors are Gov. Corzine and Senator Menendez.

:(

[DebbieCDC]

2. "A real estate developer charged with bank fraud..."

"posed as a crooked businessman".

POSED???? :rofl:

[Beacool]

8. That's all we have in this neck of the woods.

Real estate developers, one more greedy than the other and crooked politicians who take their bribes.

:mad:

[Mimosa]

3. The FBI did good work.

We all ought to be proud when the system works.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. The mayor of Hoboken was sworn in 22 days ago.

[Beacool]

6. Yep, ain't it just grand!!!

Well, at least I can rub it in to those who voted for the jerk. He only won by 130+ votes. His opponent won the machine vote and her city council team got in. He won through absentee ballots and one box of hand written ballots that was "mysteriously" left under a table overnight. Make of that what you will.......

:eyes:

[vaberella]

7. Lots of dirty dealers in your State. I'm from NYC, I've got my fair share here too. n/t

[Beacool]

9. Well, NY is doing just as bad.

It's a case of pot meet kettle. That nonsense with the state senate was just beyond ridiculous, they cared more about their power play than doing the business of the state. Truly shameful!!!

;(

[vaberella]

10. Yeah I know, NYC is as bad if not worse. I said as much.

What you've just mentioned is the big fish. There's the little fish as well, like local Congressmen. I know a few in Queens that are treacherous. My thing is none of them have either been accused or charged or allowed to play dirty.

[Beacool]

12. Yeah, corruption is found at all levels and pretty much in every state.

I just can't believe that this baby face mayor managed to get arrested less than a month of being in office. At least Russo, two mayors ago, managed to be in office a few years before being sent to jail. LOL!!

:7


What am I laughing about? The whole thing is disgraceful.....

:(

[DebbieCDC]

11. Ah, this reminds me of the good old days when I lived in North Jersey

1985-87

[Beacool]

13. Don't you just miss living here?

:eyes:

[DebbieCDC]

14. There are some things I will ALWAYS miss about Jersey

Other things...not so much LOL