Crisis of Leadership: 11 N.J. Officials Arrested

During the last five years, more than 100 public officials in New Jersey alone have been convicted on federal corruption charges. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, public corruption is one of its top investigative priorities because of its impact on our democracy and national security.

The latest example of the crisis of leadership within American government culminated September 6, 2007 with the arrests of 11 public officials from throughout New Jersey. The defendents, including state assemblymen, a mayor, city councilmen, the chief of staff to the Newark City council president and school board officials, were charged with corruption for taking bribes in exchange for influencing the awarding of public contracts, according to the office of U. S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie.

[Reprinted from the U. S. Attorney District of New Jersey website – http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/pleas0906rel.pdf]

TRENTON — In a public corruption investigation that progressed from southern to northern New Jersey, five members of the same local Atlantic County school board, two state Assemblymen from Passaic and Essex Counties, the mayor of Passaic and one current and one former Passaic city council member, and the chief of staff to the Newark City Council president were arrested today and charged with taking cash bribes to influence the award of public contracts, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie and FBI Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun announced.

Each of the 11 public officials and one associate accepted the payments from companies that offered insurance brokerage or roofing services to school districts and municipalities, according to criminal Complaints unsealed with the arrests this morning. The investigation began in mid-2006 amid evidence of corruption in the Pleasantville School District. In response, the FBI established an undercover insurance brokerage company purporting to employ the government’s two cooperating witnesses and undercover agents.

Pleasantville School Board members allegedly took thousands of dollars in bribes from the cooperating witnesses. The circle of corruption widened when certain Pleasantville school board members referred the cooperating witnesses to public officials in northern New Jersey who also took bribes and, in turn, put the cooperating witnesses in touch with still other corrupt public officials, according to the Complaints.

The investigation included hundreds of tape-recorded and/or videotaped encounters, during which the officials charged in the complaints openly expressed their desire to enrich themselves using their public positions and influence. The defendants accepted corrupt payments ranging from $1,500 to $17,500 at any one time. In most cases, the defendants sought to establish and perpetuate a corrupt relationship with the cooperating witnesses to continue receiving bribes.

“The brazen greed and callous disregard of their oaths of office displayed by these defendants as alleged in the criminal complaints is breathtaking,” said Christie. “Public officials around the state should finally learn that federal law enforcement will not rest while they continually violate the public trust. This pattern of corruption infects every level of government – from the local school board to the highest levels of state government. The public has had enough.”

“There is no safe haven for corruption in New Jersey,” said Dun. “The FBI continues to fight corruption as it seems there is a never-ending supply of public officials willing to subvert their positions and lay themselves on the alter of public disgrace.”

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U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey Press Release	Click here to visit site
U.S. Attorney's Office District of New Jersey	Click here to visit site
FBI Website Investigating Public Corruption	Click here to visit site

Spotlight On: Christopher J. Christie, U.S. Attorney

Christopher J. Christie is serving his second four-year term as the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey. Known to be as dedicated, vigilant, and aggressively anti-corruption as seen in the state for many years, Mr. Christie's track record is extraordinary.

Christie has earned recognition for cracking down on corrupt politicians and prosecuting nearly 100 political figures of various rank and party affiliation. His team has taken on major corporations such as Bristol Myers Squibb and educational institutions such as the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, investigating instances of alleged embezzlement and falsification of documents.

Fighting political and corporate corruption has earned Christie the title of the 2006 New Jersey Law Journal Lawyer of the Year.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Presentation

On Thursday, February 22, 2007, over 200 individuals attended Mr. Christie's presentation Political Corruption and the Fight Against Terror at an event organized by the Anthony J. Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies, School of Administrative Science of Fairleigh Dickinson University. He spoke eloquently about the current culture of terrorism and corruption while offering insights into remedies for this crisis:

• The positive collaboration between various law enforcement agencies in the war against terror, especially with the local partnerships in New Jersey and the improved communication between the FBI and the CIA due to the Patriot Act.
• Understanding that Islamic extremism is a threat to our way of life from without and corruption is a threat to our way of life from within.
• The scandalous behavior of corrupt politicians who unscrupulously take the oath of office "under the authority of the people" — reflecting the greatness of the American Experiment and the words of the Constitution "We the people" — yet within a short period of time betray public service for self service.
• Politicians who cheat should be voted out of office by "We the people." Laws can assist society but the power of the people deserves to stand up against corruption through the ballot box. Voting against unjust politicians who do not keep promises and lack integrity is critical. Politicians ask to be trusted during election campaigns — when they fall short of the virtue of trust they must be removed from office by the people.
• Be convinced of the power of your presence as a citizen; Hold your elected officials accountable by your presence at community meetings; Corruption is an abuse of a power issue in politics and not relegated to a particular party.
• Youth need to be inspired to serve as public officials and the example to motivate them to serve is lacking. We must counter the rotting of American society by rebuilding the hope, faith and trust of our youth — especially in our schools.
• In the last New Jersey gubernatorial race, cynicism reigned as Corzine and Forrester spent $100 million in casting aspersions toward each other. Only 46% of registered voters went to the polls compared to the 1993 campaign of Florio and Whitman where 69% voted... a 23% decline in 12 years due to cynicism.
• New Jersey deserves to be known for more than corruption and the Sopranos. It is time for the people to take back their state by demanding a standard of integrity and appreciating their power to vote corruption out of office.

Mr. Christie's call for an involved and committed electorate echoes the words of Thomas Jefferson:

"The most effectual means of preventing [the perversion of power into tyranny are] to illuminate, as far as practicable, the minds of the people at large, and more especially to give them knowledge of those facts which history exhibits, that possessed thereby of the experience of other ages and countries, they may be enabled to know ambition under all its shapes, and prompt to exert their natural powers to defeat its purposes."

"All authority belongs to the people."

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U.S. Attorneys Mission Statement	Click here to visit site
U.S. Attorney's Office District of New Jersey	Click here to visit site

Former Hazlet New Jersey Mayor Sentenced for Corruption

Former Hazlet, New Jersey Mayor Paul A. Coughlin was sentenced to two years in prison on September 22 for taking a $3,000.00 bribe. This recent sentencing represents a continuous scandal of corruption within many levels of New Jersey government.

 

"We are pleased with the long sentence imposed.  Each time a plea or sentencing occurs in these corruption cases, we hope that other public officials tempted to serve themselves will consider what has happened to Mr. Coughlin and others," said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie. Mr. Christie has an impressive track record in the work of restoring integrity to New Jersey government.

 

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"Bloods" Gang Members Admit Murders, Drug Trafficking, Armed Robberies

Amir Winn admitted shooting the father of an 8 year old boy in front of the child because the father wanted Winn and the Bloods not to bother his son.

 

"These are cold blooded killers and remorseless thugs who murdered to intimidate, to consolidate their hold on neighborhoods where they sell drugs and to avenge disputes with rivals", said U. S. Attorney of New Jersey Christopher J. Christie.

 

On September 21, four members and one associate of a notorious set of the Bloods in Essex County, N.J. pleaded guilty, admitting among other crimes, that each of them murdered at least one person.

 

Read: http://newark.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2006/nk092106.pdf

Former New Jersey Senate President Pleads Guilty to Corruption

"Today an era of corruption and influence peddling for personal profit has been put to an end. There is no one in this state, no matter how powerful, who is above the law," said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie.

For receiving payments in return for illegal official action and senatorial influence, former N.J. state senator John A. Lynch pleaded guilty on September 15.

Lynch pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of tax evasion and faces a federal prison sentence of 33-41 months.

Read: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/lync0915_r.htm

22 High-Level Gang Members of the Crips Arrested in New Jersey

In a series of sweeps over the last 24 hours, members of the Crips street gang, responsible for the distribution of crack cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and illegal firearms in East Orange, Irvington and Newark were arrested.

Authorities confirmed that along with the 22 arrests, half a kilo of crack cocaine, 500 ecstasy pills, heroin, $8,500 in U.S. currency and 16 guns were seized throughout the investigation. During the arrests, a 9mm and .38 caliber handguns, a shotgun, a bulletproof vest and approximately 40 grams of crack cocaine were seized.

The U.S. Attorney, Christopher J. Christie, credited the collaborative efforts of the FBI, the Essex County Sheriff Department, and the Newark, Irvington and East Orange Police Departments for the investigation of the case.

Read:http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/crips0913_r.htm

Atlantic City Council President, Camden Councilman Plead Guilty to Extortion

"Public officials selling their offices, lining their pockets and making a mockery of their service to the public," stated U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie in reference to the on going scandal of New Jersey corruption.  The newest guilty pleas were based on a three-year investigation of Atlantic City Council President Craig Calloway and Camden Councilman Ali Sloan El.

 

Calloway admitted taking approximately $36,000.00 in payments between 2003-2005 in exchange for assisting a contractor, Terry Jacobs, obtain Atlantic City construction work.  Sloan El steered Camden redevelopment work to the contractor for about the same amount.

 

Jacobs pleaded guilty to an unrelated drug offense, admitting to conspiracy to distribute cocaine in Gloucester County, NJ. 

 

Christie stated that the investigation into public corruption will remain vigorous in New Jersey, in pursuit of anyone who betrayed the public trust bestowed on them when they took public office.

 

Read More: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/call0830_r.htm