SECAUCUS – As noted in an item below, former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell and co-defendant Ron Manzo are set to go to trial on corruption charges on Feb. 1, 2011.
The court clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Jose Linares today confirmed that jury selection for the pair will begin next Feb. 1.
Elwell and Manzo were among 44 public officials and religious leaders who were arrested July 23, 2009 in a massive FBI sting operation. Two other officials were later arrested in connection with the case known as Operation Bid Rig.
According to indictments handed down last November, the former mayor allegedly received $10,000 in “corrupt payments” to help Solomon Dwek, a government informant, with “real estate development matters in Secaucus.”
Manzo allegedly received $5,000 “for his assistance in setting up the corrupt arrangement [between] Elwell” and Dwek.
Elwell and Manzo have each pleaded not guilty to the charges and continue to maintain their innocence. – E. Assata Wright
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
