Unsuccessful Jersey City council candidate Jimmy King expected to plead guilty in massive corruption sweep
By Margaret Schmidt/The Jersey Journal
September 24, 2009, 11:14AM

Unsuccessful Jersey City City Council candidate and popular civic association leader James "Jimmy'' King is expected to plead guilty this afternoon to charges in the massive New Jersey corruption scandal.

King, who is also a former Hudson County undersheriff, was accused in the sting of accepting two illegal $5,000 payments from a government informant for his May campaign.

He's due in federal court in Newark at 12:30 p.m., court officials confirmed this morning.

So far, four of the 44 people arrested in the July 23 sweep have pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from the informant, who was posing a developer seeking favors from officials.

Former Jersey City Housing Authority commissioner Edward Cheatham, former Hudson County Board of Elections investigator Denis Jaslow, and former Jersey City municipal employees Maher Khalil and Guy Catrillo.

Neither King nor his attorney, Arthur Abrams, could be reached for comment.

King -- whose Jimmy King Civic Association has been praised in the Journal Square area, particularly by seniors, for charitable works -- is also the former head of the Jersey City Parking Authority and a former chairman of the city's Incinerator Authority.

He came in second in the May contest for the Ward C, Journal Square, council seat to Nidia Lopez, a running mate of Mayor Jerramiah Healy. After the election, King challenged Lopez's residency, pointing out in a lawsuit that she has claimed Orlando, Fla., to be her home in order to get a tax break on a home she owns there.

The lawsuit, which has since been joined by third-place finisher Norrice Raymaker, is making its way through state Superior Court.

In the sweep, King was charged with conspiracy to commit extorition under color of official right.

The sweep netted a mix of public figures and rabbis on wide-ranging charges including corruption, money laundering and even trafficking of body parts.

Another of 44 due in federal court

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Yet another person arrested on corruption and/or money laundering charges in July is scheduled to appear today at 12:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Newark, a U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman said yesterday.

The spokesman did not reveal who would be in court, nor the purpose of the hearing.

So far, four of the 44 people arrested in the July 23 massive sweep have pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from an FBI informant posing a developer seeking favors from officials.

The people who have plead guilty to taking bribes are: former Jersey City Housing Authority commissioner Edward Cheatham, former Hudson County Board of Elections investigator Denis Jaslow, and former Jersey City municipal employees Maher Khalil and Guy Catrillo.

Today's hearing is before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares.

CHARLES HACK

Former Jersey City housing official pleads guilty, says bribes went to Mayor Healy's campaign
by Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal
Friday September 18, 2009, 12:34 PM
Jersey Journal file photoEdward Cheatam, a former Jersey City housing commissioner, pleaded guilty in federal court today and said bribe money he took went to Mayor Jerramiah Healy's campaign.

Former Jersey City Housing Authority Commissioner Edward Cheatam pleaded guilty in federal court today to taking bribes from a government informant and told the court he passed those bribes along to Mayor Jerramiah Healy's campaign.

Cheatam, who was accused in the scheme along with Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini and political operative Jack Shaw, said he broke down large bribes into smaller increments to pass to the mayor's re-election campaign.

Healy has acknowledged he is the unnamed Jersey City official referred to in the criminal complaint but he has said he did nothing wrong. He has also confirmed that the FBI visited his office, Shore home and City Hall.

In court, Cheatam also admitted helping introduce the informant to pave the way for bribes to several public officials charged in the case, including state Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano and Secaucus Mayor Dennis Ellwell.

Cheatam pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit extortion.

A second defendant pleading guilty today is Denis Jaslow, an investigator for the Hudson County board of elections and an ex-state corrections officer.

He is charged with taking a $2,500 bribe in exchange for introducing a Jersey City council candidate to a government informant posing as a crooked real estate developer. The informant said he wanted the independent candidate, Michael Manzo, to help secure a zoning change for a luxury condominium building.

I'd like to dedicate this song to Healy

"Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when they come for you......

How long is Healy going to keep up the "I knew nothing" charade?

This is getting very 'Nixonian'.

Two more Jersey City officials are expected to plead guilty in N.J. corruption sweep

[from "The Star-Ledger," September 18, 2009, 12:00 p.m.]

NEWARK -- A Jersey City housing official arrived at the federal courthouse here, where he is expected to be the first of two people to plead guilty today in connection to the massive corruption sweep that netted 44 people in July.

Edward Cheatam, a housing authority commissioner, was indicted last month along with Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini for allegedly promising to help a government informant posing as a crooked developer secure building approvals in exchange for illicit campaign contributions to Jerramiah T. Healy, the city's Democratic mayor.

Healy has not been charged. Beldini has pleaded not guilty.

Cheatam is scheduled is appear before U.S. District Judge Jose Linares at noon.

The second defendant expected to plead guilty today is Denis Jaslow, an investigator for the Hudson County board of elections who and an ex-state corrections officer.

He is charged with taking a $2,500 bribe in exchange for introducing a Jersey City council candidate to a government informant posing as a crooked real estate developer. The informant said he wanted the independent candidate, Michael Manzo, to help secure a zoning change for a luxury condominium building.

Jaslow is scheduled is appear before U.S. District Judge Jose Linares at 12:30.

Last week, two other Jersey City officials -- Maher Khalil, 39, a former health official, and Guy Catrillo, 54, a former planning aide -- became the first defendants in the case to admit guilt, telling a federal judge they took bribes from the informant, identified failed Monmouth County developer Solomon Dwek.

Dwek was charged with bank fraud in 2006, then spent more than two years recording conversations for federal prosecutors during scores of meetings in diners, parked cars and boiler rooms.

His work led to the arrests three mayors, two state legislators, several political operatives and five rabbis from communities in Deal and Brooklyn.

-- Joe Ryan

City Employee Retirement Board Approves Castagna’s Pension

[from "Jersey City Independent," September 16, 2009]

At a meeting of the Jersey City Employees Retirement System (ERS) board this morning, health department official Joseph Castagna’s request to receive early retirement benefits was approved.

Castagna, who was arrested on federal corruption charges in July, put in a request to retire after it was revealed that he is under investigation by the Jersey City Police Department for allegedly issuing more food vendor permits than the law allows.

Given that Castagna has not been formally charged, assistant business administrator Bob Kakoleski felt that the board “should only consider the facts as they are today.” City staffer Ben Bruno and chief financial officer Donna Mauer, the other two commissioners present, agreed when they voted in favor of the request along with Kakoleski. Business administrator Brian O’Reilly recused himself from the vote because he has overseen disciplinary action brought by the city against Castagna in connection with his federal arrest. Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who is also a voting commissioner of the board, was not present at the meeting.

The commission agreed that their decision is subject to revision if Castagna is convicted of misusing his position in City Hall. As Bernie Hartnett, the independent attorney for the ERS, put it, the retirement benefit is “expressly conditioned on the rendering of honorable service” to the city.

According to city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill, Castagna’s pension is more than $60,000 per year and he will receive a one-time payment of $84,414 for unused vacation and for 80 percent of unused sick time. Any future adjustments to Castagna’s benefit would impact only what he accrued after the date of his first criminal act.

-- Shane Smith

_________________________

Innocence presumed, a retiring civil servant (or public official) should be due his/her accrued benefits. Bizarrely, though, those benefits - pension, unused vacation days, etc. - are not currently "revocable," should that same retiring civil servant/public official later plead guilty, or be found guilty in criminal court, of selling their office.

I think a photo of Corzine and Healy at a fundraiser would please the Christie ad people.

From the Bergen Record online:

Corzine won't dump embattled mayor
Sunday, September 13, 2009
By CHARLES STILE
COLUMNIST

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy will remain an A-list host for Governor Corzine's $300-a-person fund-raiser next week despite the ongoing federal bribery investigation that has already ensnared some of Healy's political confidants.

Corzine has no intention of asking Healy to withdraw from the Sept. 23 fund-raiser in Newark despite disclosures that the FBI visited Healy at his shore home in Bradley Beach in August and interviewed City Hall officials last week, a Corzine spokesman said Friday.

The FBI visits stem from the massive July 23 federal money laundering-bribery sting that netted 44 people and turned City Hall into veritable crime scene.

"Mayor Healy hasn't been charged with any crime," said Sean Darcy, a Corzine campaign spokesman.

But neither was Joseph Doria, the former Department of Community Affairs commissioner, whose Bayonne home and Trenton office was raided by federal agents on July 23. Corzine asked for and received Doria's resignation on the same day.

If an FBI visit made Doria persona non grata why not Healy, listed in the government's case as "JC Official 4"?

Darcy replied: "Commissioner Doria was in the service of the governor and didn't want to be a distraction to the campaign."

Healy, who has steadfastly insisted he has done nothing wrong, also has no intention of voluntarily bowing out of the event at the Robert Treat Hotel, which is also co-hosted by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, state Sen. Ray Lesniak of Elizabeth and state Sen. Teresa Ruiz of Essex County.

"[Healy] imagines that they would not have asked him if they didn't want his involvement," said Jennifer Morrill, Healy's spokeswoman.

Morrill also stressed a key difference between the FBI visits to Doria and Healy: Agents left Doria's offices with boxes of documents and other materials, while Healy was only asked some "preliminary questions." She declined to discuss details about those conversations. Morrill confirmed that agents also visited Healy the day before the July 23 raids.

Although Healy has not been charged nor formally identified as a target of an investigation, Healy was the most prominent political figure linked to the federal probe and remains, at least for the foreseeable future, at its center. Among those arrested was Leona Beldini, Healy's chief of staff and treasurer of his reelection campaign.

Beldini, Edward Cheatam, a Jersey City affirmative action officer, and political consultant Jack Shaw — who died on July 28 — are accused of taking thousands of dollars in bribes from Solomon Dwek, a government informant posing as a developer seeking swift zoning approvals, and illegally funneling them into Healy's campaign fund.

Healy also met with Dwek at a Jersey City luncheonette on April 30, federal officials allege. At the meeting, Dwek detailed the amounts of money he gave to Shaw to be "passed on" to Healy's election fund. After listening to Dwek's litany of payments, Healy allegedly told Dwek that hopefully, they could work "together" and it would be "mutually beneficial."

Corzine's treatment of Jersey City in the wake of the arrests has come under fierce criticism.

A week after the raids, Corzine ordered a freeze on state approvals of projects in towns where the mayor was charged with a crime. It was widely seen as an attempt to force Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez, also arrested for allegedly taking bribes, to resign. Suarez has refused.

Critics accused Corzine of strong-arming a small-potatoes mayor while letting officials in Jersey City, a Democratic bastion critical to Corzine's reelection, off the hook.

Editorial: We can only think it's just fine by him

by The Jersey Journal

Monday September 14, 2009, 12:01 AM

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy has yet to show any sign of indignation in the drama of two members of the City Council who should resign but are holding onto elected office.

Most astonishing are the revelations in the deposition of Journal Square Councilwoman Nidia Lopez, who is proving to be more of a Floridian than a Garden State resident. Lopez, who ran on Healy's slate in the May city election, has been accused of having her primary residence in the Sunshine State and is being sued by Norrice Raymaker, who lost to her in the spring race.

After the latest revelation, Healy said he is "confident" that Lopez is a resident of Ward C. Either she is or is not. The mayor should not be relying on the court to make a Solomonic decision but should be demanding answers of this official.

In a sworn deposition, Lopez said she has not paid New Jersey income taxes in at least three years. According to a transcript of the deposition, she said she filed federal taxes as a Florida resident in 2006 and 2007 -- and filed there for an extension for filing her 2008 federal taxes. To run for office in Jersey City, she must have been a resident for a year.

Florida does not have a state income tax, which could account for why she has not filed taxes in New Jersey.

Lopez owns a home in Orlando, Fla., that she has been claiming as her primary residence to get a break on Florida property taxes since 1997. Florida officials demanded that she pay back about $30,000 of those tax benefits upon learning she was elected to her Jersey City post.

Confusing things further, Lopez is registered to vote in both Jersey City and Orlando -- and she has.

No matter the outcome of the residency lawsuit, the councilwoman cannot pretend she was confused. This is a person who has been trying to take advantage of tax laws. There is, at minimum, a moral deficiency. It is a trait shared by Healy, who insists on waiting for the outcome of the courts. He is completely unaware that public opinion has already tried the councilwoman -- and the mayor.

Healy's position is the same when it comes to City Council President Mariano Vega, who was arrested by the FBI on July 23 in a U.S. Attorney's Office investigation into political corruption and money laundering that has led to the handcuffing of 44 people.

Vega cannot serve the people of Jersey City while putting up a defense in federal court, and this newspaper has repeatedly called upon him to resign and allow someone else to serve as a city lawmaker. Vega has refused and even insists on remaining as council president.

Last week, city officials Guy Catrillo, a member of the Mayor's Action Bureau, and Maher Khalil, deputy director of the Department of Health and Human Services, both pleaded guilty to accepting corrupt cash payments. Naturally, Healy had no comment on the criminal activities in the local government where he is its chief executive. Jersey City Councilman Steve Fulop was correct when he addressed the guilty pleas.

"The justice system is going to take care of Guy Catrillo," Fulop said, "but he's just a small lower level worker in a big political organization that fundamentally needs to change."

Fulop added that he thinks it is imperative that City Council President Mariano Vega should step down as soon as possible.

Where is the outrage, mayor?

To be clear the feds did'nt just visit Healy's beach house...they searched it. This in August, after the "BIG BUST" so they were acting on new info from guess who? The Blues Brothers of course whose deals were cut in August. Follow the yellow brick road.

so, maybe Healy's the one who brought the whole evil enterprise down by cooperating with the feds. See, we already have a great reformer in town!

FBI goes into 4 offices in Jersey City's City Hall
by The Jersey Journal Friday September 11, 2009, 8:44 AM

Last night, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy confirmed that FBI agents paid a visit to his Bradley beach home in August-and to City Hall yesterday.


Healy said he couldn't say more about the visits because investigations connected to July's massive corruption sweep are ongoing. But according to sources, six to eight agents visited the City Hall offices of the business administrator, tax assessor, tax collector and city clerk yesterday.

Healy was not among the 44 people arrested in the FBI sting on July 23, but seven of those arrested worked for Jersey City, including Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, who has been indicted.

The officials are charged with accepting bribes from FBI informant Solomon Dwek, who was posing as a developer looking for help with zoning approvals.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... nto_4_offices_in_jer.html

Castagna, under 2 probes, has filed request to retire

Friday, September 11, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City health official Joseph Castagna - who was charged in July in the massive FBI corruption sting and is now under investigation by local police - has put in his retirement papers, city officials confirmed.

Castagna, a 53-year-old health officer who is being investigated for issuing more food vendor licenses than the city allows, put in his request to retire Aug. 26, according to Jennifer Morrill, a spokeswoman for Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy.

The next day, police seized additional records from his office, officials told The Jersey Journal in late August.

The retirement, which is not yet approved, is scheduled to be considered at the Sept. 16 meeting of the City of Jersey City Employees Retirement System board, Morrill said.

Castagna has worked for the city for 29 years and currently earns $105,164 a year. If approved, his pension would be $60,740 a year. In addition, Castagna will also receive a one-time payment of $84,414, which includes 43.5 accrued vacation days, one-half of a personal day, and 80 percent of his 207 days of unused sick time, Morrill said.

Castagna has not been terminated, but if he were terminated before he retired, Castagna would lose the payment for his paid sick days, but would keep the rest of his benefits, according to Morrill.

Pension applications are normally approved as long as applicants meet general requirements such as age and years of service. But if Castagna is found guilty of a crime that directly relates to his office it is possible that the pension board could later decide to withhold part of the pension, according to Bernard Hartnett, the pension board's attorney.

Castagna was arrested by the FBI July 23 and charged with taking a $5,000 payment from an FBI informant posing as a developer. The health officer was supposed to pass along the money to the campaign of Michael Manzo, a firefighter running for the City Council in Ward B, according to the complaint.

Jersey City Police Chief Tom Comey has refused to say more about the police investigation because it is ongoing, but a source has said the records indicate that Castagna gave out more than 100 licenses above the 175 permitted by city ordinance. Annual fees for the licenses range from $100 to $250.

The licenses used to be issued by clerks at the city Health Department, but it appears that Castagna took control of the process, the source said.

And Healy keeps saying he is clean while all this has been going on around him, plus he had two meetings with Dweek. I guess he runs the city the same way...CLUELESS..

The city has fired Catrillo from whatever it is he does....

JJ link....

Holy crap; can you imagine where we'd be right now if this dope had somehow beaten Fulop?

Actually, they did hold trials for the witches. Hence, The Salem Witch Trials.

Vega is a stupid, corrupt Scumbag.
Quote:

Kahil also said he took the money "for Vega"

The bathrooms in City Hall are working overtime today.

Dirty Jersey: Two Guilty Pleas Expected in Corruption Probe
Two Jersey City officials expected to plead guilty in federal court today
By JONATHAN DIENST
Updated 12:00 PM EDT, Wed, Sep 9, 2009

The two officials expected to plead guilty today were arrested in corruption and money-laundering sweep that netted 44 people.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two Jersey City officials are expected to plead guilty today in connection with the large corruption investigation that resulted in 44 arrests in July.

Guy Catrillo, a member of the Mayor's 'Action Bureau' and Maher Khalil of Jersey City's Health and Human Services Department are expected in federal court in Newark. A spokesman for the US Attorney's office would only say two unnamed officials would be making a court appearance.

The duo are expected to plead guilty, according to two sources. An FBI spokesman declined comment. Defense attorneys Michael Pedicini and Michael Koribanics did not immediately return calls as their offices said they were en route to the federal courthouse.

Khalil is charged with taking $30,000 in bribes while Catrillo is accused of taking $15,000 in improper payments. An FBI informant had posed as a developer willing to make illegal payoffs.

The pair were part of the massive FBI sweep of public officials and rabbis called 'Operation Bid Rig.' The investigation centered on numerous New Jersey public officials who allegedly took bribes. A parallel track of the probe focused on religious leaders accused of running a money-laundering ring. One man charged in the case is accused of trying help sell body parts for transplant.

With the expected guilty pleas, it is unclear if Catrillo and Kalil are cooperating with authorities and naming names. Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy did meet with the FBI informant in the case but denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged.

Catrillo and Khalil to plead guilty:

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... ity_officials_expect.html

Quote:

Does this mean that after we hear all the facts and he is convicted that we can burn him at the stake??? (figuratively speaking) If he is convicted he should spend years in prison...no bs....IMHO

Mr. Vega, the "fact" is that you accepted a bribe while serving as an elected official in Jersey City. Do the right thing (this time) and resign from the City Council.
PS--Please stop listening to whoever is feeding you these ridiculous lines to give to the press; they're making you sound even more pathetic.

[quote]
"I will do whatever it takes to clear my name," Vega said. "I'm just glad this is not Salem, Massachusetts, where they burned the witches before putting them on trial, as some people want to get me out of office before hearing all the facts."

Here are three relevant articles from the holiday weekend's local coverage:

___________________


EXCLUSIVE:
Was Jack Shaw 'arrested' by feds the day before the actual arrests?

[from "The Jersey City Reporter," September 5, 2009]

July 23 was a significant day in Hudson County as many local politicians were amongst the 44 individuals swept up in a corruption/money laundering sting.

But what if the significant day was the day before?

At least three sources connected to those arrested say longtime politicial consultant Jack Shaw was allegedly "picked up" by FBI agents on July 22 instead.

Shaw died on July 28 in his apartment in downtown Jersey City but the cause of his death is yet to be determined pending an autopsy. Some believe he committed suicide.

Shaw was charged with allegedly taking $10,000 from the government's cooperating witness, Solomon Dwek, for himself. He also allegedly proposed that Dwek pay $10,000 in campaign contributions for the re-election campaign of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. (Healy has not been charged with any wrongdoing.)

While the media saw Shaw walk out of federal court in Newark on the afternoon of July 23, the sources say that Shaw had allegedly been in the custody of federal agents for nearly a day before, who allegedly tried to convince him to become a "cooperating witness" like Dwek to continue the investigation and ensnare other political officials

But Shaw allegedly was not cooperative, apparently angered by federal agents who were insensitive to his medical condition, as Shaw was a diabetic.

The sources say that Shaw allegedly complained about the agents to other arrested people as they all waited to face a judge on July 23.

When asked about the allegations about Shaw being picked up a day earlier, as well as other questions, Michael Drewniak, spokeperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark would only comment, "Sorry, I cannot answer those questions for you. I am confined to the public record."

While the early arrest of Shaw may be just spectulation, it is worthy to note that multiple sources familiar with the arrests and with City Hall politics also cite July 22 as the day that federal agents allegedly paid a visit to Mayor Healy at City Hall, although very little information has come out about that supposed meeting.

-- Ricardo Kaulessar

_____________________

FBI DROPPED IN
Saw Healy day before sweep

[from "The Jersey Journal," September 5, 2009]

The FBI paid a visit to Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy one day before the July 23 corruption sweep that netted 44 people, the mayor's spokeswoman confirmed yesterday.

Although spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill confirmed the visit with the mayor at his City Hall office, she said the mayor refused to disclose what was discussed, citing the ongoing investigation.

Morrill was responding to an article on the "Jersey City Reporter's" Web site, which first reported the visit.

Michael Drewniak, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, refused to comment.

Among the 44 people arrested in the FBI sting were 23 from Hudson County, including seven Jersey City employees.

Many of the officials are charged with accepting bribes from FBI informant Solomon Dwek, who was pretending to be a developer looking for help with zoning approvals.

Healy has not been charged with any crimes, but he has acknowledged meeting with Dwek at least twice, in rendezvous that included Edward Cheatam, a Hudson County affirmative action officer, political operative Jack Shaw, and Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, who served as his campaign treasurer.

The federal complaints allege that Shaw - who died July 28 - Beldini and Cheatam "arranged for others" to provide checks to the campaign of "JC Official 4" with cash provided by the Dwek. Healy has acknowledged he's "JC Official 4," but says he did nothing wrong.

-- Amy Sara Clark

_____________________

Vega will return for City Council meetings

[from "The Jersey City Reporter," September 5, 2009]

Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega, one of the 44 people arrested in the July 23 federal govt. money laundering/public corruption case, said on Friday that he plans to return to preside over the City Council at its caucus on Tuesday and the council meeting on Wednesday in City Hall.

Vega, in a short interview, said he "looks forward" to working again with his council colleagues and "doesn't feel nervous" being back out in the public. Vega did not attend the Aug. 12 council meeting because he was meeting with his attorney, Peter Willis, to discuss his case.

Vega was charged with allegedly accepting $30,000 from federal “cooperating witness” Solomon Dwek, and has been one of the targets of residents, as well as City Councilman Steven Fulop, at recent council meetings who have called for his resignation. There also been calls for the resignation of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, who was named but not charged in the complaints against the 44 arrested, and of City Councilwoman Nidia Lopez due to her residency issues.

Vega said he is still innocent until proven guilty and looks forward to his day in court.

"I will do whatever it takes to clear my name," Vega said. "I'm just glad this is not Salem, Massachusetts, where they burned the witches=2 0before putting them on trial, as some people want to get me out of office before hearing all the facts."

-- Ricardo Kaulessar

What else is going on is that the developers, politicians, and attorneys have been working with city and state leaders for redevelopment of superfund site areas. There is big money going on here. Occidental oil company bought the Diamond Alkali site in Newark. Other wordwide ones have been coming in, buying up, not cleanin up, and lining the pockets of our State DEP, HEALTH DEPT, AND MORE.

We need to seriously have Newark checked out for corruption for it its the root place of all of this that gave these scoundrels the balls to take it elsewhere in Jersey. They are covering up alot more than prostitution. Prostituation is just the after-effect party of the deeper crimes. Toxins that cause major health issues, selling livers on black market, infliltrating drugs and guns to the hoods, as they use mottos of safety and nurture-is what is going on here.

Whenever you see, creating new jobs and recreation parks-that means corruption, superfund sites not cleaned up, redevelopment to line pockets and then the prostitution rings to serve their lack of balls.

I guarantee way more than caught are involved and they are in various different careers and positions.

All of them should be hogtied, and have their booty whipped in public till they clean up their funk. And any of their spouses-shame on you for marrying a coward and allowing them to further make our lives harder and diritier. Total losers. Money does not, buy class.

Mothabones

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy comments on "not guilty" plea by his deputy mayor

[from "The Jersey Journal," September 1, 2009, 6:24 p.m.]

As you may have heard, earlier today Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini pleaded not guilty to charges she accepted bribes on behalf of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy's re-election campaign from an FBI informer posing as a developer who asked for help securing zoning approvals.

It seems that the mayor is backing off of his earlier support of his longtime friend just a bit, saying today:

"She has pleaded not guilty to these charges and it's now in the hands of the Courts and we'll all have to await the resolution of these charges," Healy said.

Also pleading not guilty today was Edward Cheatam, a former Jersey City Housing Authority commissioner, who was charged along with Beldini in the July 23 FBI corruption sweep.

Healy declined to comment on Cheatam.

-- Amy Sara Clark

Two Jersey City officials plead not guilty in N.J. corruption sting

[from "The Star-Ledger," September 1, 2009, 3:29 p.m.]

NEWARK -- Two Jersey City officials pleaded not guilty in federal court in Newark today to conspiracy to commit extortion in connection to July's sweeping public corruption sting.

Leona Beldini, a Jersey City deputy mayor, and Edward Cheatam, a city housing authority commissioner, were arrested along with 42 others in the bribery and money-laundering scandal. They are accused of promising to secure building approvals in exchange for illicit campaign contributions to Jerramiah T. Healy, the city's mayor.

Healy is not charged in the case, which was the largest federal sting in modern New Jersey history.

Beldini, 74, and Cheatam, 61, were the first -- and so far only -- defendants indicted in the case. U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares scheduled their trial for Oct. 26.

During today's brief hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra L. Moser prosecutors said she planned to file a request to delay the trial, citing its massive scope.

But Beldini's lawyer, Brian J. Neary, said he planned to object to the request.

"My client is 74 years old. She can't wait for the government to get ready to try this case on their schedule," Neary said.

-- Joe Ryan

Quote:

I gotta get a city job.....

Quote:

Real justice would dictate that this money been used to help cover the costs of his trial and incarceration if he were to be convicted.... IMHO