JERSEY CITY – Mayor Jerramiah Healy issued a statement Monday afternoon on the new indictments handed down against former deputy mayor Leona Beldini.
Beldini, arrested on July 23 as part of the FBI investigation into money laundering and public corruption, was indicted again on Nov. 19 as reported by the Associated Press Monday, on three additional charges of accepting bribes totaling $20,000 and real estate commissions from the government’s cooperating witness Solomon Dwek, allegedly in exchange for Dwek to get approvals for Dwek’s purported development project on Garfield Avenue.
The money in turn went to Healy’s reelection campaign. Healy has not been charged in connection with the investigation.
Beldini is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court, Newark.
Here is Healy’s statement:
“This is an ongoing investigation, and as it evolves and new charges are filed, we continue to be dismayed by the negative light this has cast on Jersey City. That being said, we continue to conduct honest, open and efficient government and are focused on moving our city forward,” Healy said. “Like all defendants in a criminal investigation, Leona Beldini is innocent until proven guilty and we will await the outcome of the court proceedings in this matter.” – RK