More time for former mayor Vas

Saturday, April 16, 2011

FREEHOLD - Former Perth Amboy mayor Joseph Vas has been sentenced to prison for the second time this week on corruption charges.

Vas received an eight-year sentence yesterday in state Superior Court in Monmouth County. He pleaded guilty in November to state charges of official misconduct, theft and money laundering. Vas and aide Melvin Ramos were accused of soliciting an illegal payment from a city vendor and using straw donors to fund Vas' political campaign.

Vas and Ramos were convicted on federal charges of mail fraud, election finance violations and lying to authorities. On Tuesday, Vas was sentenced to six years and six months.

His federal and state prison terms will run concurrently.

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DowntownWilly/DonaldJ - any comment on being a being a "bad judge of character"?

From jerseycityindependent.com

By Jon Whiten ? Jul 23rd, 2009 ? Category: Blog, News, Politics

FBI and IRS agents are reportedly making roundups all across the state in what is being described as one of the biggest investigations of its kind in New Jersey?s scandal-plagued history. According to news reports from NBC and the Bergen Record, City Council president Mariano Vega and deputy mayor Leona Baldini are among those arrested, as is former City Council candidate Michael Manzo. Other Hudson County politicians, including newly-elected Hoboken mayor Peter Camarano, have also reportedly been arrested.

UPDATE, 9:23 AM: The Record reports that former council candidate LaVern Webb-Washington, as well as Jersey City health officer Joseph Castagna and local Republican John Guarini have also been arrested. Pictures at NBC show that former Ward E candidate Guy Catrillo was also arrested.

The federal agencies are mum thus far on the specific charges, but a press conference is expected later today as suspects appear in U.S. District Court in Newark. We?ll bring you any of the significant details as they emerge.

http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/ ... resting-jersey-city-pols/

06-11-09 -NEWARK
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey -- A longtime political adviser to Assemblyman and former Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas pleaded guilty today to participating in a ?straw-donor? scheme to funnel contributions to Joseph Vas?s 2006 primary campaign for the Democratic nomination for Congress in New Jersey?s 13th District.

Geneske News Release (.pdf)

Geneske Information (.pdf)

This Vas Stuff is just incredible.... talk about a sense of self entitlement... all these politician's think thier little fiefdom's are thier own piggy banks...

They throw a block party or go to a ribbon cutting for a new resturant in Greenville; that is the change we can see, while they cover up or refuse to acknowledge the drug violence and street crime that keep good people locked up in thier homes at night...

Just keep the system lubricated with illegal contribution money so the propaganda machine producing reports about the quality of life in JC.

When I look at some of these photo ops... I get reminded of a police lineup... just an amazing state; pay to play anywhere else is public corruption

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The gift that keeps on giving...

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Yeah you're right that was Fulop's guy. It's ashame the Councilman is such a bad judge of character! Here's a link to additional charges just filed against Vas. Thanks Steve!


http://www.politickernj.com/max/29980/vas-faces-more-state-charges

This was Steve Fulop's guy a couple years back for Congress... I believe Vas carried Ward E only

Guess we know why Steve went independent....

This state is just so dirty and corrupt... everyone of the these politician's are dirty... Can't wait to see what happens when Obama' Stimulus Kiss to Hudson County starts pouring in...

The Federal Prosecutor's Office might as well start writing out the indictments; just leave the name blank for indicted and unindicted co-conspirators... Who do you think they will flip first?

The money will disappear faster than what Obama is pouring into the Middle East / Pakistan... Imagine what the Hudson County Pol's could extort if they had nukes?

Just remember... this is all for the children

N.J. Assemblyman Joseph Vas is indicted on federal corruption charges

by The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
Wednesday May 20, 2009, 6:47 PM

Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger

NEWARK -- Former Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas was indicted today on federal corruption charges, accused of using his political influence to further a real estate deal that netted him nearly $300,000.

Vas, who is still a member of the state Assembly, used about $75,000 of the profit to finance his campaign for the Democratic Party nomination for Congress, according to federal authorities.

N.J. Assemblyman Joseph Vas accused of corruption
According to the indictment, Vas, while mayor, purchased a 12-unit apartment building in Perth Amboy for $660,000 and sold it five months later to a contractor for roughly $950,000. To sweeten the deal, he used his influence to funnel $360,000 in state affordable housing money to the contractor for use in renovating the building. He also pressured the state Council on Affordable Housing to approve the use of the funds.

Vas, 54, also tried to hide his involvement in the case, in one instance having his typed name "scratched out" of a signature page of an agreement and having a law director sign instead, the indictment states.

"To stoop to the level of engaging in fraud of money intended to help those less fortunate is particularly disturbing," said Weysan Dun, head of the FBI office in Newark.

Melvin Ramos, mayoral aid to Vas and treasurer for the congressional campaign, was also indicted on charges of illegally funneling money to four people to make contributions to the campaign, and of filing false campaign financing reports with the Federal Election Commission.

Vas and Ramos stood silently during an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Newark. The only comment from the former four-term mayor came when U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Aleo asked if he understood his rights.

"Yes," the 6-foot-5-inch, bespectacled and balding Vas said in a barely audible voice.

Vas was released on $200,000 bail secured with the High Street home he owns in Perth Amboy. Ramos, 53, was released on $100,000 secured by the house he owns next door to Vas.

Vas and his attorney, Alan Zegas of Chatham, quickly left the courthouse after hearing, declining to comment.

Newark attorney Alberto Rivas, who represents Ramos, did not return calls for comment after the hearing.

"Once again, we have an entrenched, powerful politician who used his power and status and insider knowledge to game the system to his illicit advantage," Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra said.

Vas and Ramos are each charged with six counts of mail fraud, with each charge carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Vas also is charged with misapplication of funds, punishable by 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as eight counts of lying to federal agents, punishable by five years in prison and a $250,000 for each count.

Ramos is also charged with making contributions to a federal candidate in the name of others, which carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Additionally, he faces two counts of making false statements.

Last month, Vas pleaded not guilty in Superior Court in New Brunswick to state charges he stole more than $5,000 in goods and services from the city while he was mayor.

Ramos, 53, and Raymond Geneske, 73, a former Vas associate, have also been charged by the state Attorney General's office with soliciting fraudulent contributions to Vas' unsuccessful 2006 campaign for Congress.

Two former city employees, Jeffrey Gumbs, 50, and Ana Pastrana, 49, have pleaded guilty in Superior Court to helping Vas with the thefts.

The federal indictment alleges that in August 2005, Vas and an unnamed city councilman met with an unnamed contractor who was interested in buying property in Perth Amboy to rehabilitate. The contractor was advised the 12-unit building located on DeKalb Avenue -- which Vas was under contract to buy -- was available for $950,000.

When the contractor balked at the price, he was told public funding was available for reconstruction costs, the indictment states.

A month after securing ownership of the building, Vas told his lawyer to prepare papers to sell it. On May 18, 2006, he sold it to the contractor.

The next month, Vas pushed for and city council members approved a resolution giving the contractor $360,000 in funds from a regional contribution agreement -- deals by which suburban towns pay cities to assume their affordable housing obligations -- to rehab the building. Vas never disclosed his interest in the building, according to the indictment.

Asked how the federal investigation began, Marra today cited the May 2008 election in which Vas, who first became Perth Amboy mayor in 1991, lost his bid for re-election to a fifth term to political newcomer Wilda Diaz.

"It's always good when citizens can make change," Marra said. "That's often when people can come forward."


Click here for full story

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My moniker is "BrightMoment", singular while "Bright Moments" is a greeting/music by the inimitable Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

Yes, I admit being a cheerleader for Joe Vas and as he seemed to have a more substantial background on the issues than Albio Sires who was a Republican until 1990 and who ran for this seat back in the mid-80's,was very anti abortion and also endorsed by the NRA. As super_furry pointed out he seemed a better candidate than the Hudson County Democrat Organization's candidate, Albio Sires.

If Joe Vas and his confederates turn out to be all that the indictment states I too will join those saying he and they should go to jail just like Janizewski should have been jailed.

When I'm wrong about a candidate, Grove Path, I'll admit to being wrong and own up to it. How bout you?

"Keep a watch on the news involving the indictment of Assemblyman Joe Vas, D-Perth Amboy, and some of his aides. I get this feeling that sooner or later, either through the state or feds, something about Hudson County will pop up.

Vas' personal driver, Anthony Jones, was indicted by the state on charges that he and his boss rigged a public lottery so Jones could buy a two-family home designated for low-and moderate-income residents.

This is reminiscent of a home buying incident during the administration of Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler. No one is saying anything illegal occurred, but the individual involved, who is now a member of the present city administration's inner circle, obtained a place to live through a city program for first-time home buyers. Perhaps more about all this down the road. Of course the individual involved can come talk to me about it. Give the city lawyers a rest - I have the paper work and would love to shoot the breeze. Or I can offer some more teasers."

Read the above in the Jersey. We've already endured the public drunk and disorderly within the Healy Admin. Will Jersey City be in the spot light again now for corruption? Who's the individual within Healy's inner circle that will be tarnishing our city this time?

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super_furry wrote:
...What Vas has allegedly stolen is chicken feed ...

2 Vas aides are charged

THE STAR LEDGER
Friday, March 20, 2009

Two long-time aides to former Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas were charged today with soliciting fake contributions to the Democratic politician's failed congressional campaign.

Melvin Ramos, 53, and Raymond Geneske, 73, both of Perth Amboy, were charged with conspiracy, official misconduct and money laundering in a scheme to inflate Vas' campaign war chest, Attorney General Anne Milgram said.

Vas, an assemblyman representing the 19th District in Middlesex County, was indicted last week on charges he stole $5,000 from the city of Perth Amboy by submitting fraudulent expenses for clothing and other personal items. Pressure has mounted for Vas to resign.

Ramos, a former mayoral aide, served as treasurer of the congressional campaign and Geneske, a member of the city's board of education, worked as campaign chairman.

Milgram said Ramos and Geneske pressured city employees and others to make political contributions to Vas' 2006 campaign for the 13th Congressional District and then fully reimbursed them with cash for their donations.

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Superfurry -- I was never a cheerleader for Janiszewski nor did I vote for him -- but you, Bright Moments and Mr. Rogers clearly were cheerleaders for TEAM VAS!

Thanks again for all the insight on how to vote!

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It's a shame when an elected official dishonors their elected office. If Grovepath can stop gloating for a moment he might recall that Vas was running against an HCDO candidate, and the HCDO has a history of betraying the public trust. Remember Robert Janiszewski? He served as county executive for 13 1/2 years and pretty much headed up the HCDO during that period. What Vas has allegedly stolen is chicken feed compared to what current power brokers in the HCDO can steal through the patronage system, nepotism and bloated pensions. And it's all perfectly legal. Keep that in mind when you pay your next city and county tax bills.

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March 25, 2005
Former Hudson County Leader Gets 41 Months in Corruption Case
By RONALD SMOTHERS

NEWARK, March 24 - Robert C. Janiszewski, the former Hudson County Democratic leader who wielded great influence in state and national politics and wore a wire in corruption investigations, was sentenced to 41 months in prison after a judge rejected defense and prosecution requests for leniency.

In handing down the maximum sentence, the judge made it clear that Mr. Janiszewski's admission that he evaded taxes and took more than $100,000 in bribes had not been mitigated enough by his cooperation with investigators. Nor did it matter that, as the county executive for 131/2 years, he had ruled Hudson County in the 1980's and 1990's.

Judge Joel A. Pisano of Federal District Court called Mr. Janiszewski's crimes "tawdry," "unbelievable in their breadth and duration" and destructive of the public trust.

"To say that the citizens of New Jersey have become the laughingstock because of widespread corruption in politics is an understatement," he said. "I conclude that the mitigating factors in this case are swept away by the seriousness of the matter."

Mr. Janiszewski pleaded guilty in 2002 to a scheme that involved more than $20,000 in bribes from Dr. Oscar Sandoval, who had contracts to provide psychiatric services to the county jail and mental hospital. Mr. Janiszewski acknowledged receiving about $100,000, some from vendors who have not been identified.

But he also helped prosecutors in recording incriminating conversations with his best friends and associates, contributing to the convictions of six other people.

The United States attorney had recommended leniency, meaning a sentence less than the 33 to 41 months suggested in the law.

But the judge, in a swipe at prosecutors, said he could not go along.

"We must recognize the arrangement made by the prosecution," he noted, "but I have decided to exercise my discretion and deny the application for leniency. I conclude based on the need to vindicate the public interest and the need once and for all to deter future similar actions that the mitigating factors are swept away and that there is only one reasonable sentence in this case."

The judge also imposed a $40,000 fine.

In an unusual twist, the judge cited Mr. Janiszewski's own testimony in 2003 in the trial of Nidia Davila-Colon, a former county freeholder whom Mr. Janiszewski helped convict. During the trial, a defense lawyer drew out details of the former Democratic leader's own corrupt behavior, which went beyond what he had admitted in his plea agreement.

William F. Maderer, Mr. Janiszewski's lawyer, said he was shocked by the judge's ruling and comments. But Candace McCoy, a professor at Rutgers University Law School who specializes in sentencing issues, said Judge Pisano was firmly within the new discretion given to sentencing judges under two recent United States Supreme Court decisions.

"The norm was for judges to go along with" recommendations for leniency, she said, since the "substantial cooperation agreement" in such cases was such a powerful aid to investigators. And usually, she said, a judge only sees the facts and crimes in the plea agreement between the defense and prosecution.

"But the interesting wrinkle here is for the judge to rely on the facts from that other trial that were not what the prosecution and defense agreed upon," she said. "This is a check on the plea bargaining in that often a prosecutor enters into a deal that is too favorable, but he is stuck with it. The judge isn't stuck with it, though."

Christopher J. Christie, the United States attorney for New Jersey, said that Mr. Janiszewski had provided "enormous cooperation" that helped secure guilty pleas or convictions of the six other Hudson County officials and contractors. But he said neither the sentence nor the ruling surprised him, adding that it could have been worse for Mr. Janiszewski: had he not cooperated, he could have been sentenced to 87 months in prison.

"Sentencing is always a balancing act between the prosecutors who are the executive branch, and the judicial branch," Mr. Christie said. "So it won't change the way we do things in our office."

Alan Zegas, a prominent defense attorney, also said that he did not see the judge's decision affecting other cooperation agreements.

"It does not signal a new culture," he said. "It might mean some slight hesitancy in future agreement talks, but over time I think you will see more lenient sentences from judges rather than harsher ones."

Mr. Janiszewski, 59, appearing gaunt, nodded occasionally during the hearing. A former social studies teacher who served in the State Legislature and rose to become one of the state's top three Democrats, he told the court he was sorry for the disgrace and embarrassment he caused and accepted full responsibility. He must surrender in six weeks to serve time in a federal prison that was not yet identified.

Hudson County, for its part, has moved on, and few there want to talk about Mr. Janiszewski's fate. One former aide to Mr. Janiszewski who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that in many ways the case had devolved from a political tragedy into a personal one. Another official who requested anonymity said one of Mr. Janiszewski's greatest accomplishments was unifying the county's 12 mayors, reluctant transportation officials and a divided state congressional delegation on the idea of the Hudson-Bergen light-rail system.

"He got the deal done and improved the image of the county and property values in Hoboken and Bayonne," the official said. "That should have been his legacy."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/25/nyregion/25hudson.html?_r=1

This thread is so funny. People in this city are still gonna vote for Healy and he's already been convicted in his case. His cronies are racing up and down our streets in a drunken stupor and people are feigning shock at this guy's behavior? Please.

Where are all the cheerleaders now?

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Vas could be first legislator charged under new mandatory minimum law

If convicted of the corruption charges filed against him today by Attorney General Anne Milgram, Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy) could face a stiff sentence.

Three of the charges against Vas - for second degree official misconduct - carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison without parole because the crime allegedly occurred on or after April 14, 2007 - the effective date of the state's public corruption sentencing enhancement law.

The single count for third-degree tampering with records filed against Vas carries with it a minimum two year sentence without parole.

Wally Edge can be reached via email at politicsnj@aol.com.

http://www.politickernj.com/wallye/28 ... new-mandatory-minimum-law

I'm glad I didn't listen to the poster who told be to join team Vas cause the other guy was a crook...CRIPES~

Former Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas charged with taking city funds

by The Associated Press

Wednesday March 11, 2009, 4:12 PM

Assemblyman Joseph Vas (D-Middlesex) has been indicted on charges of of bid-rigging, misappropriating expense funds, conspiracy and official misconduct stemming from his time as Perth Amboy Mayor, Attorney General Anne Milgram said today. The 11-count indictment accuses Vas of stealing $5,000 in Perth Amboy funds for his personal use while he was mayor. "Joseph Vas took an oath as mayor to honestly and faithfully serve his city, but instead he shamelessly exploited his position for personal gain," Milgram said. Also indicted was his personal driver, Anthony S. Jones. Milgram said Vas rigged a public lottery so Jones won an opportunity to buy a house from the Perth Amboy housing program. "By rigging a housing lottery, (Vas) rewarded his personal driver at the expense of the city, denying deserving families who might have been able to purchase this two-family home," Milgram said. Milgram said Vas fraudulently billed expenses, including $1,400 for a private basketball training camp for his son and a co-conspirator's son. He also is accused of buying $153.22 in beachwear, $142.38 in sneakers and a duffel bag, and $289.37 for refreshments for his father's funeral. Other billings included $450 for another basketball camp for his son and $3,800 for a variety of expenses, including clothing. Vas, 54, lost his bid for a fifth term in office last May to Wilda Diaz. He remains on the town's planning board and redevelopment agency. Vas is now in his third term in the state Assembly, where he has sponsored 22 ethics bills on corruption, campaign finance and election reform. A spokeswoman for Vas declined comment on the charges this afternoon. Full News Story

Ross, thanks for clearing the confusion.... I stand by my statement that being an independent locks you out of most elections, the local representation.... As the old saying goes, "All politics is local ".

But you can still vote in the mayoral election- non-partisan..
Mia

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well, f890. Does that mean I'm a registered Democrat now? Thanks for posting that link. And here I thought I was pulling a fast one. Can't beat the machine.

Now, to set about downloading a voter registration form...

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Not quite - per the State board of elections:

http://www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/faq_voter_doe.html#a26

Independents voting in their FIRST primary can declare at the polls. After that, you need to file a party declaration 50 days prior to the primary.

Grovester stated " Apparently, they said at the polls yesterday, that everyone was Independent and could choose when they got to the polls on primary day."

That was what I was commenting on, the everyone part... His statement implied that I could change to Republican on that date if I so chose. That took me by surprise.

Yes, I know an independent can vote in a NJ primary and I think it's a good thing. I agree that Common Cause NJ etc should promote that....

Mia

Mia--they probably didn't mention it because you are a registered Dem.

I'm undeclared so they did give me a choice when I showed up at the polls.

I think this is a terrific law that increases opportunities to vote because I would never register to a party just so I could vote in a primary. So the fact that primary elections are not restricted to party affiliated voters, as they are in most states is a real pleasure to me.

You would think that groups like Common Cause, PIRG, et al, would do more to educate the people of NJ on this. Certainly you can't count on the Reps. and Dems. to do it.

I'm not registered with any party and I voted for Joe Vas yesterday--but only because 25McWilliams let me know I could. Otherwise I would have stayed home and waited for November. The law should probably be scrapped because it invites sabatoge, but if it's going to be the law, voting materials should play it up more.

Oh well, a strong loss isn't as good as a win, but it can still send a message.

No one mentioned that to me at the polls but I went at an odd hour. I'm not aware of the law. My expereince years ago when a bunch of us wanted to vote in the republican primary, anti-Schundler vote, we had to file change of party forms by a 4-6 week deadline date. It's good if that has changed.

I'm sure many independents stayed away not knowing they could declare a party on primary day. I've spoken to independents in the past who never realized that by the time they get to the polls in November it's a done deal on the local level....They prided themselves on not having an affiliation but they missed the prime opportunity to have a choice....

There was this interesting fellow wearing a Fulop Field Team shirt and handing out Vas flyers on the corner of Mercer & Jersey and later migrated over to Jersey & Montgomery yesterday. When he wasn't busy singing and dancing to his reggaeton tunes from his mp3 player, he was so obviously checking out women's arses and sometimes making lewd comments to women passing by (myself included). Mira, chinita ... insert lewd comment and kissing noise. And no, although my Spanish isn't great, I know that he didn't ask me to vote for Vas in Spanish, nor did he hand me a flyer.

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Apparently, they said at the polls yesterday, that everyone was Independent and could choose when they got to the polls on primary day. When they said that, I sort of remembered hearing that being passed as a law. I've thought of myself as a registered democrat my whole life, but at the polls yesterday, they said, "Do you want to vote Democrat or Republican?"

So, rather than say it's a waste, maybe we should be questioning that law.

On the other hand, maybe it's good, it allows anyone to wake up on election day and say, "Hey, I'd like to vote in this one" without going through all the trouble of changing parties and whatnot.

Anyone have more detailed results? How did the candidates do by ward? By election district?

Also, what were the out of county results?

It's all about the apathy.... 19% of the registered Democrats voted and I'm sure most were straight party line voters. It's amazing to see that 49.4% of Hudson County's registered voters are independents, which is a waste in HC. Whoever wins the primary, wins the general election so independents don't even participate in the process. See http://www.hudsoncountyclerk.org/cgi-bin/election.pl for the election results...

Mia