JERSEY CITY – U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced on Tuesday that former Jersey City Councilman Mariano Vega Jr. pleaded guilty to agreeing to accept $30,000 in corrupt payments and illicit campaign contributions in exchange for exercising his future official influence and authority.
Vega, 60, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Jose L. Linares to conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
Vega pleaded guilty one day after his official resignation from the City Council.
Judge Linares released Vega on a $75,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for January 7.
Vega admitted he accepted the $30,000 in contributions from the government’s cooperating witness, Solomon Dwek, who posed as a real estate developer who wanted approvals for a fake condo project on Garfield Avenue, while Vega was running for re-election in 2009.
The charge to which Vega pleaded guilty carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years
in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of Vega’s guilty plea, he agreed to forfeit $20,000 of the $30,000 he admitted accepting from Dwek.– Ricardo Kaulessar