HUDSON COUNTY — Federal authorities raided the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny in an apparent probe for records from administrative offices that could be tied to contracts with providers to the jail, said several county officials.
The raid appears to have been focused on the office of Deputy Director Kirk Eady. In that office, computer hard drives and other documents were taken.
Jim Kennelly, spokesperson for the county executive’s office, said would not comment on the investigation.
“We don’t know exactly what the investigation is concerning,” said one official. “But we’ve heard several things and it could involve [alleged] tax invasion or contracts with the jail.”
The probe may have been sparked by statements made by one or more candidates in the current municipal campaign ongoing in Jersey City.
“It is very difficult to ascertain what is going on,” this county official said. “But the raid did occur and it involves the federal government.”
Rumors have grown to include a number of farfetched senerios, but one source closer to the matter said the federal probe may be in response to something the Hudson County Prosecutor’s office has already looked into and dismissed.
According to this source, federal authorities were brought after an alleged online conflict between a female union staff member that escalated into a heated debate and accusations that the jail officials had somehow allegedly hacked into the woman’s phone line or computer.
“In light of what is going on with West New York Mayor Felix Roque and his son, and the events going on in Hoboken with Mayor [Dawn] Zimmer’s email, the feds had to respond,” the source said.
Roque has been indicted for allegedly hacking into the website of a political opponent. Meanwhile, Patrick Ricciardi, a former information officer in Hoboken, pled guilty this week to hacking into Zimmer’s email account.