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!

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin'! :^D

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1357048/posts

McGreevey backer's $75,000 deal Power broker from Philadelphia hired by UMDNJ to serve on governor's transition team

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Two days after James E. McGreevey was elected governor in 2001, one of his top fund-raisers was hired by the state-owned health care university and then paid $75,000 over the next three months as a liaison to the gubernatorial transition team.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's contract with Philadelphia power broker Ronald White was not approved by UMDNJ's board of directors, and school officials last week said they have no records to show anywork was done for the money.

The contract came to light in the past two weeks after one of UMDNJ's checks was entered into evidence in a Philadelphia corruption trial. White was to be a defendant in that trial but died last year of cancer.

White had close ties with McGreevey's top campaign officials and was a business partner of Robert Feldman, the former governor's No.1 fund-raiser. His company, International Brokerage Concepts Inc., received three checks worth $25,000 each from UMDNJ, according to documents released last week by the university.

Susan Preston, a UMDNJ spokeswoman, said she could not offer any explanation of the contract or White's work and said officials could find nothing to show what White did.

"We have no further documentation beyond what has been provided," Preston said, adding that the contract was approved and overseen by an administrator who has since left the university. She said school policy permits the administration to sign agreements worth less than $100,000 without board approval.

According to university documents, White's firm was retained to represent the university "during the transition of Governor-elect James McGreevey ... (to keep) the university up to date with the evolving plans, policies, budget goals and financial considerations regarding the McGreevey 'health vision for New Jersey.'"

The contract also called for White to be responsible for "communicating as effectively as possible to the transition team the university's priorities, problems and abilities and opportunities to serve the people of New Jersey."

"It does seem strange," UMDNJ's new president, John Petillo, said of the White contract.

Acting Gov. Richard Codey said: "It certainly is strange that we would need somebody from Philadelphia to do that for us. The other question is how did (the university) and Mr. White get together."

As a result of inquiries by The Star-Ledger, Codey said he told Petillo: "I want a report on it. Why was this done? That's a lot of money."

UMDNJ's president at the time of the contract, Stuart Cook, is out of the country on a three-month sabbatical. He did not respond to phone messages or e-mails seeking comment.

McGreevey, who resigned from office in November after a gay sex scandal, did not respond to requests for comment.

Cook signed the checks to White, but the man who approved the contract was former Deputy State Treasurer James Archibald, then a senior vice president at UMDNJ. Now in a similar post at Drexel University's medical school in Philadelphia, Archibald said last week that he could not shed any light on the circumstances that led to White getting the contract.

"You know, we hired a lot of public consultants up there," Archibald said. "I just don't remember. I couldn't begin to tell you today what happened at that time. We had different folks for different reasons, and we're a billion-dollar-a-year company. It doesn't stand out, unfortunately."

Two other officials who signed documents associated with White's payments are still working at the university. They are Denise Mulkern, vice president for finance, and Linda Luciano, executive director of administration and finance. Neither returned calls in the past week seeking comment.

Calls to White's former office and former attorney, Edwin Jacobs, were not returned. Feldman's lawyer, Henry Hockeimer, said his client "had no knowledge of -- or participation in -- such a contract."

Based in Newark, UMDNJ is a major health care organization that includes three medical schools and a dental school, as well as hospitals and programs to train other health professionals. It has an annual budget of $1.6 billion, received $199 million this year in state aid and costs more than $20,000 a year in tuition for medical and dental students.

White, a powerful Philadelphia figure with ties to South Jersey, was among a dozen people indicted last year as part of a federal investigation into corruption in Philadelphia City Hall and the administration of Mayor John Street.

More than 15 months after the probe first made national headlines, a former Philadelphia city treasurer and two Commerce Bank executives went on trial last month, charged with trading political contributions and direct payments for millions in municipal bond work.

One of the UMDNJ checks to White was included with thousands of pages of documents entered as evidence in the trial.

Also among the records introduced by prosecutors is a June 2002 memo in which a former bank executive, convicted of wire fraud in the Philadelphia case, told colleagues a network of McGreevey's political backers was ready to help them win lucrative New Jersey contracts. In it, the banker relayed White's claim that his connections with McGreevey supporters, including Feldman and former state Senate President John Lynch, would prove useful.

White and Feldman were prominent backers of McGreevey's successful run for governor four years ago. White served on the executive committee of one of the campaign's first fund-raisers in 2000. Feldman, his business partner, raised hundreds of thousands for McGreevey.

At the time White was hired by UMDNJ, Republican Donald DiFrancesco was acting governor. DiFrancesco's chief of staff at the time, Jeff Michaels, said he never heard about the contract and found it out of the ordinary.

"It's very unusual," Michaels said. "I couldn't think of any other authority or college that would have hired any consultant for that (specific) purpose."

Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, a frequent critic of the McGreevey administration, said: "This is a gross abuse of discretion. We need a full explanation. Why does UMDNJ, a public institution, need to hire a lobbyist to lobby the incoming administration?"

Lance (R-Hunterdon) said White's involvement in the McGreevey campaign "indicates that this may be yet another example of pay-to-play," the award of public contracts to campaign contributors.

"Mr. White was permitted to play to the tune of $75,000, which is more than most New Jerseyans make in a year."

[Calpernia]

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


State seeks to halt release of corruption probe tapes
Friday March 18, 2005

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) A secretly recorded conversation between Democratic power broker George E. Norcross III and an elected official from Burlington County is among dozens of tapes from a corruption probe that the state wants to keep under wraps.

The Division of Criminal Justice late Friday filed a motion in Superior Court to block the release of the tapes, and asked Judge John A. Sweeney to reconsider making the tapes public. Sweeney recently rejected the state's bid to keep the tapes locked up and ordered them turned over to an informant who sued for their release.

The Norcross conversations are a small part of the 330 hours of tapes made in an investigation of the dealings of JCA Associates, a Moorestown-based engineering firm.

John Gural, a former Palmyra councilman who is now mayor of the Burlington County town, recorded the tapes for the state Division of Criminal Justice as part of a corruption investigation in 2001 when Gural worked for the firm.

Norcross, who lives in Cherry Hill, is an executive at Commerce Bancorp and a Democratic fund-raiser with statewide influence.

Calls to Criminal Justice spokesman John Hagerty and Norcross spokesman Richard McGrath were not immediately returned Friday.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

In the interest of timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain occasional typographical errors.

[Gabz]

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.

He was sentenced to 14 months in prison yesterday.

It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. What a bucket of sleaze he has always been, and I don't care he is a "republican"...........he has always played with who he could get what he wanted from.

[Gabz]

OOPs...............

I fogot a link

Harkins to Jail

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1421318/posts
Loophole lets ex-con fund his retirement; Former politician taps leftover election cash

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1421331/posts
NJ Statehouse Newsbrief - "Golan Bill"

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1421349/posts
NJ Statehouse Newsbrief - Stem-Cell Research Facility

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1421332/posts
DIM CORRUPTION ALERT (mega-donor Kushner funded Clintons, gay governor, hired prostitutes)

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1421925/posts
Convicted Democrat Politician Still Profits From His Crime

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1454154/posts

FOUR YEARS AND $700,000 LATER, STATE CATCHES ONTO COREY DAVIS

(snip)

The system that gave birth to We Mentor was born in 2001, when Gov. Christie Whitman created a separate children's mental health program and privatized it.

(snip)



(snip)

According to former We Mentor employee Edward Hall, "A lot of them he hired in bars."

Hall, who said he was in state prison for armed robbery and aggravated sexual assault from 1990 until 2001, worked for Davis in 2002 and 2003. While he did mostly office work, he occasionally mentored children as a "fill-in," Hall said.

Davis denied hiring Hall or allowing him to have contact with children. Davis also denied recruiting in bars. "I hired people I knew, I used advertisements," he said.

[Calpernia]

Rogues Gallery

• Martin Barnes
The ex-mayor of Paterson was indicted and convicted of accepting lavish gifts in exchange for city contracts.
Marty shows no remorse (April 23, 2003, Star-Ledger) The accusations (January 5, 2002, Star-Ledger)

• Joe Barry
The real estate mogul and associate Paul Byrne were indicted on charges that they tried to buy off Hudson County official. Barry headed to the big house (Oct. 22, 2004, Jersey Journal)

• Sara Bost
Although she never admitted taking bribes, the ex-Irvington mayor got more than a slap on the wrist when it came to sentencing.
Bost in prison camp (Dec. 2, 2003, Star-Ledger) A harsh reprimand (Sept. 9, 2003, Star-Ledger) Bost pleads guilty (April 24, 2003, Star-Ledger)

• William Braker
Ex-Hudson County freeholder William Braker pleads guilty to attempted extortion.
Braker admits shakedown (June 30, 2004, Jersey Journal) Braker gets 41 months (Dec. 23, 2004, Jersey Journal)

• Paul J. Byrne
The former Hudson County Democratic power broker suffered heart failure and a stroke while awaiting conviction on corruption charges.
Byrne expires at home (May 6, 2005, Jersey Journal) ...Meanwhile, his pal goes to jail (May 6, 2005, Star-Ledger) Byrne: I'm ready for death (April 26, 2005, Newhouse News) Byrne zings Bobby J. (Oct. 16, 2003, Jersey Journal)

• Nidia Davila-Colon
Unbelievably, voters elected this ex-Hudson County freeholder to another term while she was under indictment. Her tenure was short-lived after she was found guilty of passing bribes. Prisoner 25094-050 (Mar. 17, 2004, Jersey Journal) Nidia gets 37 months (Dec. 16, '03, Star-Ledger) Davila-Colon resigns (June 27, 2003, Jersey Journal) The conviction (June 24, 2003, Jersey Journal) Chronology of events (June 24, 2003, Jersey Journal) Pols mum on conviction (June 24, 2003, Jersey Journal)

• Jerry Free
The head of United Gunite, the Irvington sewer company that scored dirty government contracts. Free turned government informant and now lives in opulent exile in Florida. His trail of deceit is still unraveling.
Free gets house arrest (April 13, 2005, Star-Ledger) Still wheeling and dealing (April 10, 2005, Star-Ledger) A tale of graft (January 24, 2003, Star-Ledger) Exile of a salesman (January 24, 2003, Star-Ledger)

• Anthony Impreveduto
The longtime Hudson County assemblyman got five years probation and various fines after pleading guilty to using campaign funds to pay personal expenses. Ex-Hudson pol fined (Jan. 25, 2005, Star-Ledger) Family was on payroll (Nov. 21, 2004, Star-Ledger)

• Robert Janiszewski
The ex-Hudson County exec was nabbed for taking bribes. Now, "Janu" is the feds' star witness in a litany of cases against other corrupt Jersey pols.
Bobby J. to 'Abu Gharib' in B'klyn (June 29, 2005, Jersey Journal) Judge: Bye-bye, ya bum (March 25, 2005, Jersey Journal) Hudson pols on conviction (March 25, 2005, Jersey Journal) His only backer (March 25, 2005, Jersey Journal) Kin, friends beg for mercy (March 25, 2005, Jersey Journal) Ex-secretary: I'd still call him friend (March 25, 2005, Jersey Journal) Testimony revealed his corruption (March 25, 2005, Jersey Journal) Bobby J. brought them down (March 25, 2005, Jersey Journal) Feds thrilled by star witness (June 25, 2003, Star-Ledger) A who's who (October 16, 2003, Jersey Journal)

• Harry Larrison Jr.
Nicknamed "Mr. Monmouth County" after serving the region almost 50 years, the ex-freeholder was charged with asking developers to pay for a Florida vacation and other expenses. 'Mr. Monmouth County' dies (May 31, 2005, Star-Ledger) Former freeholder charged (April 28, 2005, Star-Ledger)

• Robert W. Lee Sr.
NJ's ex-chief of boxing and head of the International Boxing Federation was KO'd in '99 for racketeering, money laundering and tax evasion. He ducked jailtime for years with endless appeals. To jail at last (June 29, 2004, Star-Ledger)

• Milton Milan
Former Camden mayor Milton Milan was convicted of various corruption charges, including soliciting bribes from mobsters and staging a fake burglary to commit fraud.
Milan gets the max (June 16, 2001, Associated Press) Milan is convicted (December 22, 2000, Associated Press) Shady leadership haunts Camden (December 22, 2000, Associated Press) Mob boss fingers Milan (November 11, 2000, Associated Press)

• Harry Parkin
The chief of staff to former Mercer County Executive Robert D. Prunetti, Parkin was convicted on corruption charges for using his position to foster a secret financial interest in the county's recycling hauler.
Parkin convicted (March 22, 2005, The Times, Trenton) Friend: He wouldn't wear a wire (March 22, 2005, The Times, Trenton) Jurors mum on decision (March 22, 2005, The Times, Trenton)

• Anthony Russo
Loud and powerful, the ex-Hoboken mayor was a formidable political opponent -- and an FBI target from the get-go. He plead guilty to mail fraud.
Russo reports to prison (July 18, 2005, Jersey Journal) No mercy for Russo (May 18, 2005, Jersey Journal) Russo's apology (May 18, 2005, Jersey Journal) Amidst charges, praise (September 9, 2003, Jersey Journal) Cynicism reigns in Hudson (September 9, 2003, Jersey Journal)

• Matthew Scannapieco
The ex-Marlboro mayor pleaded guilty to accepting $245,000 in bribes to help builders' reshape the landscape of this fast-growing town.
Ex-mayor faces 15 years (April 13, 2005, The Star-Ledger)

• Jim Treffinger
The ex-Essex County Executive who plead guilty to a host of graft charges said he found religion ... just in time for his sentencing.
Feds seek stiff jail term (Oct. 9, 2003, Star-Ledger) Derailed by his own deceit (May 31, 2003, Star-Ledger) Treffinger admits his guilt (May 31, 2003, Star-Ledger)

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1453849/posts
Sen. Torricelli Played Key Role in Closing Down CIA Ops

[Calpernia]

Thanks for the McG links backhoe!

The Love Gov- or McGreevey's Great Gay Adventure
various FR links | 08-18-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1193840/posts

[backhoe]

Thanks for the McG links backhoe-

You bet- I hope people never forget how rotten that little rat is.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1456568/posts
Corzine Gave $470,000 Loan to Head of New Jersey Union (then forgave the debt two years later.)

[BykrBayb]

I don't see anything here about DYFS (Division of Youth & Family Services). Any recent word on the corruption there?

[Calpernia]

Hi BB.

This list was basically for political corruption.

There was another freeper following Dyfs, I forget who.

[BykrBayb]

Thanks.

You must have put a lot of work into compiling this. Good job.

[Coleus]

SCI probing universities' political ties

Saturday, April 23, 2005

The State Commission of Investigation has opened an inquiry into the role of political influence at New Jersey's top public universities.

The investigative agency sent letters this week to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rowan University. The letters request a broad range of documents, from information about hiring to consultant and professional services contracts and spending, according to a source who has seen the letters.

The probe was prompted by weeks worth of revelations and questions about spending at the medical university. This week, UMDNJ began releasing information about no-bid contracts.

The document release came after repeated requests from the press and began with the year 2002. For that year alone, the university gave out $126 million in contracts without competitive bidding.

State Sen. Robert E. Littell, R-Franklin, on Friday requested that state Auditor Richard L. Fair examine the no-bid contracts. "I was appalled to learn that so many of the contracts issued by UMDNJ were no-bid,'' said Littell, pointing out that the university receives more than $200 million in state funding.

Administrators at UMDNJ have pledged to have an outside audit conducted.

The SCI started its probe after acting Governor Codey questioned a $75,000 no-bid contract given in 2002 to Philadelphia lawyer Ronald White, a top fund-raiser for former Gov. James E. McGreevey. The contract called for White to serve as a liaison to McGreevey and to discern the former governor's health-care "vision." University officials said they could find no evidence that White, who has since died, did anything for the money.

The probe widened this week as the agency, which conducts fact-finding investigations, also requested information from the other state-supported schools.

Of the public universities, it has been thought that UMDNJ - a sprawling and Byzantine public bureaucracy - has been most prone to patronage and questionable spending practices. But all of the institutions have massive payrolls and elaborate budgets that critics say have been vulnerable to political interference for years.

Since the McGreevey administration, Democrats have stepped up political influence on the state college boards, appointing more party loyalists than previous administrations had named.

McGreevey also backed John J. Petillo for the presidency of UMDNJ, which he assumed last year. Petillo will be formally inaugurated on Tuesday.

Reformers saw his selection widening political influence at the state schools. Petillo, of West Orange, was chosen after trustees spent $350,000 for a nationwide search. He is a longtime player in the state, former head of the UMDNJ Board of Trustees and the first non-physician to run the institution.

A bipartisan arm of the Legislature, the SCI conducts fact-finding investigations. It has subpoena power and the authority to recommend changes in government operations and refer matters to the Attorney General's Office for criminal prosecution.

[Coleus]

Former Sussex County Democrat Party Chairman and Others Charged with Embezzling from Union and Bankrupt Health Fund

NEWARK - A federal grand jury today returned a five-count indictment against a former Sussex County political party chairman and two other individuals for their roles in embezzlement schemes that victimized Local 16 of the United Service Workers of America in Newton and its now-bankrupt health fund.

Charles W. Cart, Charles H. Wiener and Marvin Raphael are charged with conspiring to embezzle a total of approximately $284,000 in health fund and union funds as a result of a multi-faceted fraud scheme existing between May 2000 and November, 2001. Susan Donato, 47, of St. Cloud, Fla., formerly the President of Local 16 and the administrator of the Local 16 Health Fund was previously charged in a separate one-count Information.

Donato pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to embezzle from the Health Fund and is presently cooperating in the government's investigation.

Cart, 56, of Newton, is a former Sussex County political party chairman as well as the founder and former President of Local 16. He is also the CEO of Health Choice, Inc, a third-party health benefits administrator, also located in Newton. Wiener, 68, of New Port Richey, Fla., is Cart's stepfather. Raphael, 63, Boca Raton, Fla., is the owner of Marvin & Tedi, Inc., also of Boca Raton.

The Indictment portrays Cart as the union founder who left to create Health Choice. Subsequently, Cart and his co-conspirators' schemes contributed to the demise of the union with the alleged embezzlement of the health fund that the union workers paid into, said Christie.

"On the one hand, this defendant led people to believe he was on their side as a labor organizer," said Christie. "Yet, as we allege, he then turned them into victims by embezzling from them, their union and their health fund."



The main source for the embezzled funds was an alleged scheme to generate cash from the Local 16 Health Fund by fraudulently increasing the "per member" administration fee paid to Health Choice, the third-party administrator that processed Local 16 medical claims. These increased payments were then diverted to Wiener and another Cart family member who is not identified in the Indictment.

For example, between May 2000 and November 2001, Cart caused approximately $144,000 in checks to be sent from his company, Health Choice, to another company, identified as Company-1 in the indictment, under the guise of paying fees incurred by Company-1 on behalf of Local 16, according to the Indictment. In truth, Company-1 had performed no services for Local 16 and was being used solely as a conduit by Cart to get the money to his stepfather Charles Wiener.

Cart is also charged with conspiring with Raphael and Donato to defraud Local 16 of $84,000 by creating a consulting position at Local 16 for defendant Raphael, for which no legitimate services were expected or provided. Between approximately August, 2000 and July, 2001, Raphael received monthly payments of $7,000 pursuant to the consulting agreement. Thereafter, Raphael re-directed approximately $56,000 to Cart directly or through his horse farm, Horsearound Stables, according to the Indictment.

Cart and Wiener are also charged in Counts Three and Four of the Indictment with a mail fraud conspiracy for trying to deprive the union members of the honest and faithful services of co-defendant Sue Donato in her representation of Local 16 and the Local 16 Health Fund. Count Five charges both Cart and Wiener with money laundering.

Conviction on Count One, the conspiracy to embezzle from the Local 16 Health Fund, carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution to the fund. Count Two, the conspiracy to embezzle from the Local 16 Union, carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and restitution to the union. Counts Three and four carry a maximum sentence of 20 years each in prison and a $250,000 fine. Count Five, the money laundering count, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

In determining an actual sentence, the judge to whom the case is assigned would, upon a conviction, consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Despite indictment, all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Christie credits Special Agents from the Department of Labor, OIG, under the direction of James Vandenberg, Assistant Regional Inspector General. Christie also credited Special Agents from the Labor Department's Employee Benefit Security Administration, Acting Regional Director Jonathan Kay, with assisting in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney V. Grady O'Malley, Senior Litigation Counsel, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Boxer, both of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/publicaffairs/NJ_Press/files/cart0223_r.htm

[Calpernia]

Judge blasts state for lenient plea deal (Man accused of selling fraudulent IDs)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1467919/posts

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1421318/posts

Loophole lets ex-con fund his retirement; Former politician taps leftover election cash
STAR LEDGER ^ | Sunday, June 12, 2005 | TED SHERMAN

Posted on 06/12/2005 8:42:44 AM EDT by Liz

Tom D'Alessio is a generous guy.

Two months after he was released from federal prison after serving time for political corruption charges in 1998, the former Essex County Executive set up a charitable foundation.

D'Alessio called it the Evergreen Fund and has bankrolled it with more than $1.8 million of the nearly $2 million that was left in his campaign fund.

Last year, the foundation reported it gave out $37,750 in contributions of $500 or so to dozens of organizations like the March of Dimes, the United Way and the Boy Scouts. It also paid D'Alessio an $81,708 salary as executive director, leased a $45,665 Mercedes-Benz for him and purchased a $432,000 luxury condominium on Marco Island along Florida's Gulf Coast.

And it was all perfectly legal.

While New Jersey law prevents former political candidates from pocketing leftover campaign cash, they can give the money to charity. Using that loophole, D'Alessio has been able to tap that money through the Evergreen Fund.

Public records show the 70-year-old D'Alessio, a onetime Essex County sheriff, has paid himself far more than the actual charitable endeavors, funding a comfortable Florida retirement by tapping into the now tax-exempt money.

Between 1999 and 2003, the Evergreen Fund gave $200,850 to nonprofit organizations in New Jersey and Florida, where D'Alessio now resides, according to the foundation's income tax returns. The most recent return was filed in November.

During that same period, the foundation spent more than $886,000 in operating and administrative expenses, including $346,140 in salary for D'Alessio, who also receives a $3,318 monthly state pension. During those five years, the foundation spent $16,233 for travel, $52,000 in accounting fees and $30,000 in salary for his daughter, Jennifer Luongo of Nutley, who is a director and the foundation's treasurer.

(Excerpt)

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1485679/posts

FORRESTER: CORZINE MUST REVEAL DETAILS ON VOTE TO GIVE HIMSELF A $5 MILLION TAX BREAK
Forrestor Campaign ^ | September 15, 2005 | Sherry Sylvester

Posted on 09/16/2005 9:14:42 AM EDT by Spaghetti Man

(TRENTON, NJ) – Gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester today called on Jon Corzine to fully disclose the details surrounding a vote in the Senate that earned Corzine millions of dollars.

“Jon Corzine voted to bail out Japanese bank underwriters at a cost of millions of dollars to U.S. taxpayers. It’s disturbing to learn he was one of a tiny handful who made millions of dollars of the vote.”

Despite extensive briefing by the Department of Treasury and Committee on Taxations, Corzine claims that he had no knowledge that he stood to earn approximately $5 million by casting a vote to give him and his business partners a tax break in March 2004.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1485596/posts

Among Voters in New Jersey, G.O.P. Sees Dead People
NY Times ^ | September 16, 2005 | DAVID W. CHEN

Posted on 09/16/2005 6:39:47 AM EDT by Pharmboy

TRENTON, Sept. 15 - The joke has long been that dead people vote in Hudson County, New Jersey's legendary enclave of machine politics. But now the joke may be on New Jersey, according to a new analysis of voter records by the state's Republican Party.

Comparing information from county voter registration lists, Social Security death records and other public information, Republican officials announced on Thursday that 4,755 people who were listed as deceased appear to have voted in the 2004 general election. Another 4,397 people who were registered to vote in more than one county appeared to have voted twice, while 6,572 who were registered in New Jersey and in one of five other states selected for analysis voted in each state.

At a news conference at the State House, Tom Wilson, the state's party chairman, took pains to say that the analysis did not look at voters' party affiliation. He also said that the party was not accusing voters of committing fraud, suggesting instead that someone else may have exploited their names without their knowledge.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1463223/posts


Corzine's handouts called into question ("savvy" bond trader loaned $$$ to failed businesses)
THE RECORD ^ | Aug 14, 2005 | JOHN P. McALPIN and JOSH GOHLKE

Posted on 08/14/2005 2:52:03 PM EDT by Liz

Jon Corzine is the business genius with a personal fortune in the hundreds of millions.

Now he's the front-runner in the race for governor and his skills with the checkbook are being questioned.

The savvy bond trader has admitted he made some business loans - totaling as much as a million dollars -that never panned out. One of the beneficiaries filed for bankruptcy and owes nearly $100,000 in back taxes, earning her a spot as one of New Jersey's top debtors.

Corzine gave his former girlfriend a $470,000 gift so she could repay the debt on her home, which sold for a little more than $360,000. She's a union leader who pushed to endorse him in two elections and represents the largest state workers union.

He also handed $837,000 to a South Jersey political boss who then dished that cash out across the state. Now there's a law to ban what happened, and Corzine is being forced to distance himself from the political warlord, who was caught on tape bragging about his influence with the senator.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1506777/posts
Corzine's donations questioned in New Jersey governor's race

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1191576/posts

Jihadists in New Jersey with Senator Jon Corzine & Congressman Bill Pascrell, Democrats
FrontPageMag.com ^ | March 30, 2004 | Joel Mowbray

Posted on 08/14/2004 2:05:22 PM EDT by Coleus

Jihadists in Jersey

By Joel Mowbray
The New York Sun | March 30, 2004

Rep. Bill Pascrell and Senator Corzine, both Democrats of New Jersey, addressed an annual "community brunch" last month co-sponsored by 11 Muslim organizations, including a mosque that has allegedly raised funds for Hamas and another New Jersey mosque whose former imam was convicted last year for smuggling more than a half-million dollars to an Egyptian group that the American Treasury Department subsequently designated a terrorist organization. Mr. Pascrell has also received campaign contributions and fund-raising support from the president of the event's primary sponsor.

The American Muslim Union's Annual Community Brunch on February 21, 2004, was co-sponsored by 10 other organizations, including the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Islamic Center of Passaic County of Paterson, the El Tawheed Islamic Center of Jersey City, and the Dar-ul-Islah Islamic Center of Teaneck.

The co-sponsor with the most apparent ties to radical Islam, including allegedly raising funds for Hamas and hosting as a speaker last year an alleged Hamas figure, is the Islamic Center of Passaic County. The American Muslim Union, though, appears to have close ties to the Islamic Center of Passaic County, as five of its current and former directors and executives have held or still hold leadership positions at the Islamic Center.

The American Muslim Union insists it is a mainstream group, and Mr. Pascrell says he doesn't regret the appearance. Neither Mr. Pascrell nor Mr. Corzine generally vote outside of the Democratic mainstream on Israel or terror-related matters.

The co-founder of and former imam at the Islamic Center of Passaic County, which was founded in 1989, was Mohamed El-Mezain. He worked with the ICPC to raise funds for Hamas in the mid-1990s, according to an FBI memo drafted in November 2001 by the FBI's assistant director of counterterrorism, Dale Watson. Mr. El-Mezain, who is no longer affiliated with the Islamic Center and could not be reached for comment, was never charged or arrested.

The FBI document, which provided the basis for the U.S. government to shut down the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development in December 2001, cited a "reliable" source in noting that "during a speech at the Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC) in November, 1994, Mohammad El-Mezain, the HLFRD's current Director of Endowments and former Chairman of the HLFRD Board, admitted that some of the money collected by the ICPC and the HLFRD goes to HAMAS or HAMAS activities in Israel. El-Mezain also defended HAMAS and the activities carried out by HAMAS."

The American Muslim Union's president, Mohamed Younes, who is a member of Islamic Center of Passaic County's board of trustees, told The New York Sun that people at the mosque "did not know everywhere their money was going, and they would not have meant to give to Hamas."

Mr. El-Mezain and the Islamic Center of Passaic County appear to have other ties to Hamas.

Mr. El-Mezain attended a conference in Los Angeles in the mid-1990s where more than $200,000 was raised for Hamas and the keynote speaker urged participants to "finish off the Israelis," according to the FBI memo.

The FBI memo cites a "reliable" source who says that at a Muslim Arab Youth Association conference held from December 30, 1994, to January 2, 1995, the keynote speaker was Sheikh Muhammed Siyam, who was introduced as "head of operations of Al Jihad Al Islamia in Gaza, the Hamas military wing." According to the FBI in formant, Mr. Siyam told the crowd, "Finish off the Israelis. Kill them all! Exterminate them!"

"Following Siyam's speech," the memo continues, "El-Mezain exhorted the crowd to contribute money. It was subsequently announced that $207,000 was raised for 'the cause."' The FBI informant also said that at the conference, Mr. El-Mezain announced that he had raised $1.8 million inside the United States for Hamas in 1994 alone.

Magdy Mahmoud, who is the cofounder and president of CAIR-NJ, one of the co-sponsors of the American Muslim Union brunch, was on the executive board of the Muslim Arab Youth Association and directed its Chapters Committee from 1993 to 1998, during which time the 1994-95 conference occurred. According to his biography on CAIR-NJ's Web site, Mr. Mahmoud later served as the chairman of the Chapters Committee for the American Muslim Union from 1999 to 2001. Mr. Mahmoud did not return a call requesting comment.

According to the Islamic Center of Passaic County's Web site, the mosque hosted a lecture in February 2003 by Abdelhaleem Ashqar, who was identified in the FBI memo as a prominent Hamas figure.

Another co-sponsor of last month's event attended by Messrs. Corzine and Pascrell, Dar-ul-Islah Islamic Center, was co-founded by Waheed Khalid, who has defended Hamas activities. When asked by the Bergen Record newspaper in 1998 about Hamas' terrorist activities, Mr. Khalid, who until late last year served as the mosque's president, responded, "They are trying to get the occupiers out of their home."

Mr. Pascrell said that allegations that any of the co-sponsors of the event are radical Islamists or tied to terrorist organizations are "pure crap." Asked if he felt that by appearing at the event he was lending legitimacy to radical organizations, he added, "I'm not going to deal in rumors; the rest is crap. I know these men as fine family men."

A spokesman for Mr. Pascrell later clarified that the congressman wasn't referring to Alaa Al-Sadawi, the former imam at El Tawheed Islamic Center, who was convicted last July of attempting to smuggle more than $650,000 in cash to the Global Relief Fund in Egypt in April 2002.The U.S. Treasury Department designated that fund as terrorist in October 2002.

The spokesman for the congressman said, "That guy should be in jail, but you can't hold the members of the mosque responsible for his actions."

Despite multiple calls from the Sun, Mr. Corzine's office offered no comment.

The American Muslim Union's president, Mr. Younes, stressed that his organization is both moderate and mainstream, adding that it has worked to "bring people together of all faiths."

According to both men, Mr. Younes and Rep. Pascrell have been friends for almost a decade. Mr. Younes and his wife have contributed more than $4,300 to Mr. Pascrell's campaigns since 1998, according to federal election records. Mr. Younes also said that he has hosted "several" fund-raisers for the congressman, including one that netted over $20,000 in October 2000. Messrs. Younes and Pascrell said they can't remember how many fund-raisers Mr. Younes has hosted, or when the most recent one was held.

Mr. Pascrell said he had no regrets about addressing the American Muslim Union- sponsored brunch last month, noting that he has never been given any warning about the group by authorities. "I'm on the Homeland Security Committee and I've never been briefed that they are something I should stay away from," he explained.

Some information for this report was provided by the Investigative Project, a group headed by counterterrorism expert Steven Emerson.

[Calpernia]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1516493/posts

Judge: State must provide counties with names of deceased voters
Newsday ^

Posted on 11/05/2005 7:30:21 PM EST by Sub-Driver

Judge: State must provide counties with names of deceased voters

November 5, 2005, 6:29 PM EST

TRENTON, N.J. -- State officials must quickly provide all 21 counties and both major political parties with the names of adult New Jerseyans who have died since 1985 in an effort to guard against voter fraud in Tuesday's elections, a judge has ruled.

The lists must be distributed no later than 10 a.m. Monday, state Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg said Friday. She issued the directive after learning that the state official responsible for tracking deaths each year and providing the names of deceased residents to county election officials had failed to do so because he did not know it was one of his duties.

Before making her ruling, Feinberg was considering a plan to have staffers with all county election boards work this weekend to compare the death lists to their voter rolls, a move that could have had them pouring over the names of as many as 1.5 million people in three days.

However, Feinberg changed her mind after Paul Josephson, an attorney for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jon Corzine, expressed concern that eligible voters could accidentally have their names purged from the rolls and possibly not be allowed to vote if workers rushed to complete the review by Tuesday.

The hearing stemmed from complaints that state Republican officials filed earlier this year. They claim that an estimated 13,000 people who apparently have died remain on voter registration lists in New Jersey, including 4,755 people who reportedly voted in last November's election.

The state registrar of vital statistics is required by state law to annually provide the counties with a list of all people over age 18 who died

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...

JERSEY GOVERNOR RACE TURNS UGLY: CHARGES OF ABORTION, AFFAIRS DRIVE LAST DAYS (Drudge Report Flash)
Drudge Report ^ | Nov 5th, 2005 | Drudge

Posted on 11/05/2005 12:31:38 PM EST by PhiKapMom

JERSEY GOVERNOR RACE TURNS UGLY: CHARGES OF ABORTION, AFFAIRS DRIVE LAST DAYS

Sat Nov 05 2005 11:06:43 ET

New Jersey Public Radio & Television aired a report Friday night in which New Jersey Democratic Candidate for Governor Jon Corzine was grilled about whether a staffer he allegedly had an affair with -- had an abortion.

NJN News’ Michael Aron reported Friday: “The press is interested right now in personal conduct. Corzine was asked about a persistent rumor that he had an affair with a staffer whom the reporter identified by name.”

Sen. Jon Corzine: “A, not true. B, I’m not going to comment on the kind of, I think, low, guttural politics that’s going on over and over in this state, and I think the ad that was talked about was just symptomatic of that.”

NJN’s Michael Aron: “He was asked about a rumor that the same staffer had an abortion in Ohio. “ Reporter: “Can you respond to those rumors that are circulating?”

Corzine: “Trash.”

Saturday's edition of THE NEW YORK TIMES reported the incident but ignored the specifics: “But Mr. Corzine did deny a new allegation raised by reporters yesterday regarding another woman.”

TIMES reporter David Kocieniewski has been investigating the claims, sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

"He had the details. He's sat on the details," says a source.

Meanwhile, sex charges have been leveled at Corzine's republican challenger, Doug Forrester.

At an appearance in Woodbridge, Forrester denied that he h