Former Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini was found guilty on two counts of bribery and not guilty on four other charges at her federal corruption trial on Thursday.
After nine days of testimony and two days of deliberation, the jury found the 74-year-old Beldini guilty of two counts of acceptance of things of value to influence and reward. Those two counts pertain to a $10,000 payment she took from developer and government informant Solomon Dwek on March 26 of last year, and a second $10,000 payment from Dwek on May 5. The prosecution said both payments went to Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s 2009 reelection campaign, for which Beldini was treasurer.
“It is my understanding that when any public employee is found guilty of a crime, they are terminated.” – Jennifer Morrill
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A total of 44 religious and political leaders were arrested in the statewide FBI sting July 23, 2009.
Beldini had faced six charges, but was acquitted of the three most serious: a count of conspiracy to commit extortion under the color of official right, and two counts of attempted extortion under the color of official right. She was also found not guilty of another bribery charge.
Sentencing is set for June 1. Beldini faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years on each bribery count and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Beldini’s attorney Brian Neary said he will file an appeal.
Healy speaks
Mayor Jerramiah Healy issued a statement after the verdict was announced. “Leona Beldini has been a friend of mine and my family for the past 20 years, and I am saddened and disappointed by this verdict,” he said.
Beldini is currently suspended from her $66,000 per year deputy mayor position. However, city spokesperson Jennifer Morrill issued the following statement about Beldini’s employment status: “It is my understanding that when any public employee is found guilty of a crime, they are terminated from public employment by the operation of law.”
Morrill did not offer any details on when Beldini will be terminated.
Jury needed two days
The jury deliberations started Tuesday, with Wednesday off due to the blizzard. They based their verdict on the evidence presented during the trial and closing arguments presented on Monday.
On Monday, the attorneys for the government – Sandra Moser and Thomas R. Calcagni – called on the jury to weigh the evidence.
The prosecuting attorneys argued that Beldini took some of the money as a donation for the re-election campaign of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who has not been charged with any crime. They also argued she was in on the bribe-taking even if she did not accept any money for herself.
Beldini’s attorney, Brian Neary, argued that his client was a pawn in a government-enabled “Ponzi scheme” by Dwek. Neary said Dwek targeted Beldini and Mayor Healy with the help of a political consultant, the late Jack Shaw, and former Hudson County employee Edward Cheatam (who has already pleaded guilty). He asked the jury to consider that in their verdict.
And while the prosecution showed videos from the meetings that Beldini, Shaw, Cheatam, and Healy had with Dwek, the defense chose not to show any video.
However, the defense had argued the previous week that videotapes of the meetings involving Beldini and Dwek made her appear unaware of any bribery.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.