SECAUCUS AND BEYOND — The sentencing of former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed along with that of former political associate and friend, Ronald Manzo, according to news reports. Elwell’s sentencing has been moved to Jan. 18, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. and Manzo’s sentencing was pushed back to March 26 at 1:30 p.m.
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 Ronald Manzo in order to get favoritism on development projects. Elwell has said he saw the money as a campaign contribution rather than a bribe.
Manzo pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit extortion, and then testified against his former friend Elwell.
U.S. District Court Judge Jose L. Linares denied an attempt by former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell to have his bribery conviction overturned last month.
Elwell sentencing postponed, along with that of political operative Manzo
