SECAUCUS AND BEYOND — Lawyers in the corruption trial of former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell gave opening statements on Monday in federal court in Newark. The defense made an effort to discredit the government’s informant, Solomon Dwek, and former Elwell ally Ronald Manzo, who pleaded guilty last month. Defense lawyers said that both men’s motives were different than Elwell’s.
They quoted former Yankees’ manager Billy Martin as saying, “One’s a born liar, and the other’s convicted,” which he said back in 1978 in reference to Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner.
The defense said that that Elwell just thought the conversations with Dwek were about bringing a hotel to Secaucus, which would be good for the town.
Dwek was in trouble with the government due to bank fraud (for which he pleaded guilty in 2009) and likely became a government informant in order to get a better sentence. He has not yet been sentenced.
The prosecution maintains their allegation that Elwell knowingly accepted an illegal campaign contribution from Dwek, through Manzo.
For earlier updates and stories on this trial, see links below.
For continued coverage, see hudsonreporter.com or read the Secaucus Reporter this weekend.