Among those arrested in Thursday’s FBI sting investigation of New Jersey politicians were:
Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith of Jersey City is alleged to have taken cash payments of $10,000 and $5,000 to approach contacts in the state Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection regarding development projects in Jersey City and Bayonne.
Mayor Peter Cammarano III of Hoboken is alleged to have taken bribes totaling $25,000 to help expedite zoning changes and development approvals. He allegedly received the money through former Councilman Michael Schaffer, a commissioner on the North Hudson Utilities Authority (which handles sewerage services).
Mayor Dennis Elwell of Secaucus, who allegedly received a $10,000 cash bribe through Ronald Manzo to help the FBI’s witness build a hotel in Secaucus. “Manzo [allegedly] took $5,000 from the cooperating witness as a reward for bringing Elwell to him,” the FBI complaint says.
City Council President Mariano Vega Jr. of Jersey City. He allegedly accepted three $10,000 payments, two before his re-election victory and one after.
Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini of Jersey City. She allegedly accepted $20,000 in campaign donations for a certain Jersey City official. She=2 0also planned to become the broker for the FBI witnesses’ “purported 750-unit condominium project on Garfield Avenue, where units would sell for $500,000 each.”
Louis Manzo, former assemblyman and recent Jersey City mayoral candidate. He and brother Ronald allegedly accepted $27,500 in three cash payments for his campaign.
Hudson County political consultants Jack Shaw and Joseph Cardwell, both based in Jersey City. Both were given money to assist with unnamed Jersey City candidates’ campaign funds.
Unsuccessful Jersey City council candidates Lavern Webb-Washington, Michael Manzo (no relation to Louis Manzo), and James “Jimmy” King (a former Parking Authority head).
Jersey City officials Guy Catrillo and Joseph Castagna.
Hudson County officials Dennis Jaslow and Edward Cheatam.
Lori Serrano, the former chair of the Jersey City Housing Authority, which oversees low-income housing in that town, and an unsuccessful Jersey City council candidate.
Vincent Tabbachino, owner of a tax preparation business in Guttenberg and a former Guttenberg councilman. He was named co-defendant with Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez.
Fourteen money laundering defendants who are rabbis near the Jersey shore and in Brooklyn. A 15th was charged with “conspiracy to transport human organs.”
For more, return to www.hudsonreporter.com.
Thanks to www.localtalk.com for providing us with an extra set of copies of the FBI documents this afternoon.