Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra Jr. announced on Thursday that Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini (pictured with her attorney Brian Neary) and Edward Cheatam, former Jersey City Board of Education member and Hudson County government employee, were both charged with extortion in a one-count indictment.
Both were among the 44 people who were arrested on July 23 as part of the federal government’s investigation into money laundering. Other officials swept up in the sting, carried out by cooperating witness Solomon Dwek, included Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano and Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell.
Beldini, 74, is accused in the indictment of allegedly taking $20,000 in illegal campaign contributions from Dwek as a way of his gaining access to Mayor Jerramiah Healy.
Cheatam, 61, is accused of accepting $15,000 in bribes and introducing Dwek to Beldini.
Under federal law, prosecutors are required to seek indictments against defendants within 30 days of filing charges. But the other defendants in the case have signed agreements with prosecutors extend the 30-day deadline to continue plea negotiations.
Neary and Cheatam’s attorney John Collins could not be reached for comment.
Healy issued a statement about Beldini, who is currently suspended without pay:
“I’ve known Leona for more than 20 years, and I’ve always known her to be honest, upright and law abiding. And under our laws, like anyone else who is charged, she is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We have been told this is an ongoing investigation and consistent with that status, we are not going to comment any further.” – Ricardo Kaulessar
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