This qualifies him to be our deputy mayor.

Federal judge revokes Solomon Dwek's bail after he failed to return rental car

Published: Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 3:02 AM
By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

Federal informant Solomon Dwek, the disgraced developer whose cooperation with a public-corruption investigation led to the arrests of dozens of public officials, has seen his bail revoked by a federal judge after his arrest two weeks ago in Baltimore for failing to return a rental car for several weeks.

Dwek was led away to prison yesterday afternoon after Judge Jose L. Linares called him a ?consummate defrauder and an extremely cunning liar.?

Prosecutors, who allege Dwek lied to the FBI after agents questioned him about the rental car, had requested house arrest as a punishment, but Linares said Dwek needs to be behind bars.

?He knew what he was doing was illegal and improper,? Linares said, adding that Dwek is a ?danger to the community.?

Dwek has been free on bail since his initial arrest in 2006, in connection with a $50 million bank fraud. The son of a Deal rabbi, Dwek agreed to pose as a developer to help the feds nab corrupt public officials in hopes of lessening his possible 40-year prison sentence to probation.

That seems unlikely now, Linares said yesterday.
Dwek had been scheduled to testify as a key government witness in the corruption trial of former Secaucus mayor Dennis Elwell, who is charged with accepting a $10,000 cash bribe from Dwek. Prosecutors this week rested their case against Elwell without calling Dwek.

FBI Special Agent Sean McCarthy testified in Linares? courtroom yesterday that he was reviewing the criminal records of potential witnesses in Elwell?s trial when he discovered an arrest warrant for Dwek issued by the Baltimore County Police Department for failing to return a Nissan Versa Dwek rented from a Hertz Rent-a-Car using his father?s credit card.

Dwek initially told the FBI he didn?t recall renting the Nissan, but his story soon began to unravel, leading to his Newark appearance yesterday.

During the hour-long bail hearing, Dwek?s attorney Michael Himmel said his client made a ?tragic mistake.? Dwek said little, occasionally pursing his lips as the lawyers spoke.
Himmel argued that Dwek, facing a sentencing in March 2012, needed time to put his ?affairs in order.? Linares was unmoved.

?This has been four years,? Linares said, referring to Dwek?s 2006 arrest. ?You?d think by now he has begun to do that.?