JERSEY CITY — U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Tuesday that former Jersey City housing inspector John Guarini was indicted on charges of accepting $50,000 in bribes from government informant Solomon Dwek.
Guarini was one of the 44 who was arrested in the July 23 arrests of public officials and religious figures, including Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano and Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, as well as a rabbi who was involved in selling stolen kidneys.
The indictment charges that John Guarini, 60, allegedly conspired with Michael Altman, 39, of Monsey, N.Y., and former city employee Maher Khalil, 39, of Jersey City, to extort cash payments from Dwek with the promise that Guarini would help Dwek obtain real estate development approvals for a purported Garfield Avenue development project in Jersey City. The indictment also alleges that Guarini attempted to commit extortion and bribery by accepting bribes of approximately $20,000 from in 2007, and approximately $30,000 in 2008.
The indictment charges Guarini with one county of conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion under color of official right, which carries a 20-year maximum prison term and $250,000 fine; four counts of attempted obstruction of commerce by extortion, each of which carries a maximum 20-year sentence and $250,000 fine, and four counts of bribery, each of which carries a maximum 10-year sentence and $250,000 fine.
He is also charged with filing a false tax return, which carries a maximum three-year sentence and $100,000 fine.