HOBOKEN AND BEYOND — Former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, who became an infamous symbol of New Jersey political corruption in 2009 when the FBI arrested him less than a month into his term on an extortion charge, is set to be released from prison on March 11.
Right now, the 34-year-old former Democratic rising star is in a community-based corrections program.
The release date is seven months ahead of his original October 2012 release date, causing some to speculate that he may have given information to prosecutors about other potential violators.
On July 23, 2009, Cammarano was one of numerous political officials and candidates in the Tri-State area arrested for allegedly taking campaign money from an FBI informant posing as a real estate developer, in exchange for future help with development projects. After public protests, he stepped down in August 2009 and was replaced by then-City Council President Dawn Zimmer, who eventually was elected mayor outright.
In April of 2010, Cammarano entered a guilty plea to one count of “conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion under the color of right,” a felony.
Cammarano was sentenced to 24 months in prison, and he reported in early October 2010, meaning his original release date was scheduled for October 2012.
A call has been made to Cammarano’s defense attorney, Joseph Hayden of Roseland, and the story will be updated if more information is received.
For more news about Hoboken and other towns in Hudson County, New Jersey, return to hudsonreporter.com
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
