HOBOKEN — Former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano pleaded guilty to accepting $25,000 in “illicit cash campaign contributions” at U.S. District Court in Newark Tuesday, but he did not speak on the matter.
Cammarano pled guilty to “conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion under the color of right,” a felony crime “likely” to include jail time, according to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.
U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares explained to Cammarano that the guilty plea would likely result in Cammarano losing his licence to practice law, would potentially result in a monetary fine of up to twice the amount Cammarano was found guilty of taking, and would require him to return the $25,000 from the campaign.
Cammarano was tight-lipped in court, limiting his answers to “yes,” “no,” and at most, “guilty, your honor.”
A sentencing date is scheduled for Aug. 3, 2010.
Outside the courthouse, Fishman told the media that sentencing guidelines recommend 24 to 30 months of prison time, which Linares said he would be using only as a guideline.
Asked whether he believed the close outcome of the mayoral race runoff between Cammarano and now-Mayor Dawn Zimmer was influenced by the illicit cash contribution made to Cammarano, Fishman said he couldn’t speculate one way or the other.
He said being an election attorney himself that Cammarano would have a “hard time defending that he didn’t know what he was doing.”
Cammarano’s criminal attorney, Joseph Hayden, said outside the courthouse that Cammarano has accepted responsibility for his actions.
“After he finishes the criminal process, I expect he will rebuild his life and once again be a positive member of society,” Hayden said. — TJC