WEST NEW YORK – Fighting back against a flurry of media reports he says are untrue, Dr. Felix Roque, mayor of West New York, denies he is guilty of allegations of fraud, and charged the stories that the FBI had taken records from his medical offices were motivated by a Hudson County political machine that is out to ruin him for being a political maverick.
NJ.com and other websites reported that federal authorities had visited Town Hall, Roque’s medical office at 211 60th St., and his home, and had confiscated documents and a computer. In an exclusive interview, Roque told the Reporter Friday morning that none of these allegations are true.
He said that he had met on Thursday with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and while he said he was not allowed to discuss the specifics of the case, it had nothing to do with his medical practice or insurance fraud.
“They did not come to my office, they did not confiscate my computer, and they did not speak to my employees,” Roque said. “I said to the authorities, ‘I bet you a cup of coffee that one hour after this meeting this will be all over the news.’”
There was also no subpoena, he added.
“I have the ultimate respect for law enforcement,” Roque said. “They will not need a subpoena, because I believe in transparency and integrity, and I am here for one purpose: to serve the people of West New York.”
On Thursday, the Reporter stated that sources close to the 2009 mayoral campaign of former mayor Siloverio “Sal” Vega, who Roque defeated after a bitter contest, confirmed they turned over information to federal authorities which Vega’s campaign had gathered in an effort to discredit Roque.
Other sources said the alleged release of the information to the feds was in retaliation for Roque’s endorsement of Republican State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-13th) who will likely be the Republican challenger for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Senator Robert Menendez. The U.S. Senator had backed Vega in the mayoralty race.
“This is a very corrupted political machine,” Roque said in response, “and I believe that ‘El Padrino’ (The Godfather) is behind it.” He declined to specify who he meant, but continued, “The political machine is trying to take me out because I’m not their team player. The fact that I endorsed a good friend with good morals and ethics [Kyrillos] rocked the political vote.”
Roque said he has terminated hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of preexisting construction and legal contracts which may be an underlying incentive for the investigation.
Roque went on to say he had been performing surgery all day Thursday and so was not reachable for comment.
“I’ve learned to live in the fox hole,” Roque said. “If they want to try and take me on, bring it on. I’m ready. I will always do what’s right for the town. I have nothing to hide.” — Gennarose Pope