SECAUCUS – The upcoming corruption trial of former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell has been pushed back to April 26.
Jury selection had originally been scheduled to begin on Feb. 1.
Elwell was among 44 public officials and religious leaders in New Jersey and New York arrested on July 23, 2009 in a massive FBI sting operation. Two other officials were later arrested in connection with the case known as Operation Bid Rig.
According to indictments handed down in November 2009, the former mayor allegedly received $10,000 in “corrupt payments” to help Solomon Dwek, a government informant, with “real estate development matters in Secaucus.”
Elwell’s codefendant in the case, Ron Manzo, allegedly received $5,000 “for his assistance in setting up the corrupt arrangement [between] Elwell” and Dwek.
Elwell and Manzo have each pleaded not guilty to the charges and the former mayor vehemently maintains his innocence. – E. Assata Wright