Talk about a culture of corruption?
Notice that the word Democrat doesn’t appear until well into the story.
11 public officials arrested in federal corruption probe.
A sham company set up by the FBI paid bribes to nearly a dozen public officials — including Passaic Mayor Sammy Rivera, city Councilman Marcellus Jackson and Assemblyman Alfred E. Steele — who were arrested this morning in a widespread corruption sting, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Jackson took $16,500, Steele took $15,500 and Rivera $5,000 in return for their influence in awarding public contracts, federal officials allege in criminal complaints. The government says its evidence includes conversations recorded secretly during the 18-month probe at a series of meetings in restaurants, parked cars and hotels.
After allegedly collecting $5,000 during one of the meetings, at a Newark restaurant. Steele secured contracts with the Paterson Board of Education and Housing Authority. Cash payoffs of $3,000 and $1,500 to Steele are also documented by the government. One of them was given to him at his legislative office in Paterson, the federal complaints allege.
Rivera also boasts of his influence after allegedly taking $5,000 in cash from a cooperator while parked in a car in Passaic, the complaints say.
“I make the [expletive] decision,” Rivera allegedly says during another conversation. “And believe me, I’ve got the four [expletive] votes on the council. So let’s stop [expletive] and let’s get this thing rolling.”
The defendants — a collection of mayors, state legislators, and school board officials from Atlantic, Essex and Passaic counties — are to appear in federal court early this afternoon in Trenton.
They include former Passaic city Councilman Jonathan Soto, who is accused of taking $12,500.
Those charged are accused of demanding and accepting cash bribes in return for their influence in awarding contracts for roofing services and insurance brokerage from school districts and municipalities, according to criminal complaints unsealed with the arrests.
