NEWARK – U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares has denied an attempt by former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell to have his bribery conviction overturned, upholding his conviction in a ruling filed Thursday, according to published reports.
On July 6, a federal jury acquitted Elwell of conspiracy to commit extortion and attempted extortion, but convicted him on bribery, in connection with a government sting. Federal prosecutors claimed that Solomon Dwek, an FBI informant posing as a real estate developer, gave Elwell $10,000 cash through an intermediary in order to get favoritism on development projects. Elwell has said he saw the money as a campaign contribution rather than a bribe.
Lawyers for Elwell argued before before Linares in court in September, requesting a new trial or acquittal due to prosecutorial misconduct and insufficient evidence. Elwell’s defense claimed the former mayor’s character was tainted after the prosecutors attempted to associate him with a history of corrupt politics and politicians in Hudson County even though he had no connection. The defense also pointed to statements made by juror Luis Alba to the Star Ledger that Alba had reasonable doubt of Elwell’s guilt.