A who’s-who of Jersey City politicians and political consultants left U.S. District Court in Newark on Thursday afternoon after facing corruption charges. Sixteen out of the 44 people who faced charges in the now-infamous FBI sting either worked or lived in Jersey City.
The two-pronged federal operation looked into international money laundering and public corruption and snared several bigwigs but Jersey City had the most: Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega
former state Assemblyman Louis Manzo (a recent Jersey City mayoral candidate), Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, former Jersey City political candidates Jimmy King, Lori Serrano, Mike Manzo, and Lavern Webb-Washington, political consultants Joseph Cardwell and Jack Shaw, political advisor Ron Manzo (Lou Manzo’s brother), Jersey City fireman Mike Manzo (not related to the aforementioned Manzos) and city employees Joseph Castagna, Guy Catrillo, John Guarini, and Maher Khalil.
All were officially charged with conspiracy to commit extortion and/or attempted extortion under color of official light. That means they allegedly took bribes from a “cooperating witness” for the federal government, later identified as Deal businessman Solomon Dwek by various publications.
Dwek is a longtime political contributor in New Jersey who was charged in 2006 with bank fraud but instead became an informant. This year, he apparently offered campaign contributions to various local candidates in exchange for help with developments.
‘Corruption was a way of life’
Federal authorities did not mince words Thursday when they announced the charges, which they said they can back up with hundreds of hours of video and audio recordings, in an investigation that goes back 10 years.
“For these defendants, corruption was a way of life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra Jr., at a press conference in the FBI’s Newark office.
If convicted for conspiracy to commit extortion, the maximum penalty is 20 years in federal prison and fine of $250,000. However, all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information on Thursday’s arrests visit: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/press/files/pdffiles/bidrig0723%20rel.pdf
Responses
Reactions from the public last week ranged from shock to satisfaction. Some said the people charged will become informants like Dwek, and others speculated that the sting was a political ploy by former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Christopher Christie to hurt his opponent, Gov. Jon Corzine, in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Those arrested were Democrats like Corzine.
“For these defendants, corruption was a way of life.” – Ralph J. Marra Jr.
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Attorney Christopher Patella, representing Mariano Vega, said, “He has expressed his innocence and he’s going to stand by that, and we look forward to our day in court.”
Guarini, who works as a taxi inspector for the city for $40,125 a year, said the FBI should have called him into court instead of coming to his Bayonne home at 6 a.m. and treating him like a “criminal.”
Cardwell, his face covered as he was ushered out of court by his family, was heard saying, “I feel like a rock star” because of all the people taking photos.
Healy and the suspensions
Apparently, two of those charged said they were collecting donations for the re-election campaign of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, although Healy himself was not charged. Healy was identified in the criminal complaints by the U.S. Attorney’s Office only as “Jersey City Official 4,” possibly because he is not being accused of knowing of the illegal actions.
When interviewed initially by the Jersey City Reporter on Thursday, Healy said he “didn’t know what was going on.” Later in the day, he issued a strong statement calling for the suspension without pay of city employees charged in the case until the case is settled.
He said, “We are saddened by the negative light this has cast on our city and want to assure the public we have always conducted honest and open government.”
Downtown City Councilman Steven Fulop, who has long called for reform of Jersey City government, issued a statement demanding that Vega “resign his office immediately.”
“This is truly a dark day for Jersey City,” he said. “Yet again, we are disgraced by the conduct of our city’s leadership and the far-reaching embarrassment their actions bring to the city.”
Catherine Grimm, a lifelong Jersey City resident and longtime critic of city government, commented, “I am still stunned at the scope of investigation, but it is long, long, long, long overdue.”