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

[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.