The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington DC, Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has turned his attention to a pressing issue: how members of Congress have amassed enormous wealth despite earning base salaries of under $200,000 per year.
file photos by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, in a historic corruption case, former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez (D) was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after being convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion (New Jersey Values?) . The sentencing, handed down in Manhattan federal court, marks the dramatic fall of the once-powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman.
Continue reading Democrat ‘Gold Bar Bob’ Gets 11 Years for Bribery
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Continue reading A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words , in Ridgewood
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, has filed a motion on Wednesday seeking the dismissal of charges accusing him of bribery and acting as a foreign agent. In a statement, Menendez’s lawyer, Adam Fee, argued that the charges are unconstitutional and the motion was filed to expose the alleged fundamental flaws in the government’s case.
Continue reading NJ Democrat Senator Bob Menendez Files Motion to Dismiss Indictment
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hoboken NJ, On August 5th, Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla publicly announced his offer of future employment for a newly created role to a sitting Hoboken City Councilwoman who was potentially opposing his slate in the upcoming general election. The new position being offered would commence after both the mayor’s and the councilwoman’s first terms end on December 31st, 2021. According to Hoboken Councilwomen Jen Giattino (Council Vice President) and Tiffanie Fisher, this violates multiple New Jersey ethics, civil service and criminal codes and they have requested in writing to the Office of Attorney General and the Local Finance Board to investigate the actions of the Hoboken mayor including violations of the following codes:
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hillsdale NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal today announced that an employee of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (“PVSC” ), a state agency, has been charged with paying a $1,200 bribe to a senior official at the agency.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Englewood Cliffs NJ, a New Jersey man today admitted that he paid a foreign official $100,000 in bribes to secure an improper business advantage and to obtain and retain business contracts, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. of the FBI’s Newark Field Office announced.
FBI uncovered Russian bribery plot before Obama administration approved controversial nuclear deal with Moscow
By John Solomon and Alison Spann – 10/17/17 06:00 AM EDT
Before the Obama administration approved a controversial deal in 2010 giving Moscow control of a large swath of American uranium, the FBI had gathered substantial evidence that Russian nuclear industry officials were engaged in bribery, kickbacks, extortion and money laundering designed to grow Vladimir Putin’s atomic energy business inside the United States, according to government documents and interviews.
Federal agents used a confidential U.S. witness working inside the Russian nuclear industry to gather extensive financial records, make secret recordings and intercept emails as early as 2009 that showed Moscow had compromised an American uranium trucking firm with bribes and kickbacks in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, FBI and court documents show.
They also obtained an eyewitness account — backed by documents — indicating Russian nuclear officials had routed millions of dollars to the U.S. designed to benefit former President Bill Clinton charitable foundation during the time Secretary of State Hillary served on a government body that provided a favorable decision to Moscow, sources told The Hill.
The racketeering scheme was conducted “with the consent of higher level officials” in Russia who “shared the proceeds” from the kickbacks, one agent declared in an affidavit years later.
October 1,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey has a long and proud history of public corruption. A dozen Garden State mayors who have been forced to resign over the past decade due to criminal convictions. Mostly Democrats (10) ,but a few Republicans trying to get in on the action .
Paterson Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres, a Democrat, pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to commit official misconduct for having employees with the Department of Public Works perform work for the mayor and his family members while bilking the city out of overtime. Torres follows a long line of Mayoral criminality .
Passaic Mayor Alex Blanco, a Democrat, was sentenced in April to more than two years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal bribery charge for soliciting $110,000 in bribes from developers in exchange for sending federal housing funds their way.
Passaic Mayor Samuel “Sammy” Rivera, a Democrat, pleaded guilty in 2008 to extortion for accepting $5,000 in cash from an insurance brokerage firm. Rivera, who was among 11 public officials swept up in a statewide FBI sting, was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Newark Mayor Sharpe James, a Democrat, was convicted in 2008 on federal fraud and conspiracy charges for helping a woman described as his mistress buy nine plots in a city redevelopment zone, among other acts of wrongdoing. James was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, a Democrat, was sentenced in May 2014 to nearly five years in prison in connection with a $119,000 bribery scheme linked to a parking garage project operated by FBI informants.
Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo, a Democrat, was released from prison in December 2014 after serving more than 18 months in federal prison. He was sentenced to 38 months in prison for accepting $12,400 in bribes from Marliese Ljuba, a close friend and health insurance broker for the school district.
Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammaranno, a Democrat, was among 44 people swept up in Operation Bid Rig. Cammarano, who’d been in office for only 22 days before his arrest, was sentenced in August 2010 to two years in prison, and later disbarred.
Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, a Democrat, was sentenced in April 2012 to two-and-a-half years in prison after he was convicted of accepting $10,000 in cash through a middleman from Solomon Dwek, as part of Operation Bid Rig. Elwell, who resigned from his position shortly after his arrest, later lost an appeal challenging his conviction.
Northvale Mayor Paul Bazela, a Democrat and a former foreman for the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, pleaded guilty to theft in March 2016 to having his workers perform renovations at the home of the commission’s former superintendent, Kevin Keogh, while on agency time. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
Guttenberg Mayor David Delle Donna, a Democrat, and his wife were each sentenced in 2008 to more than four years in prison for accepting more than $40,000 in gifts and cash campaign contributions from a local bar owner.
Of coarse Democrats don’t have all the fun ;
Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, a Republican, was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud in connection with a $1.2 million farm deal. Convicted on charges of wire fraud, an illegal monetary transaction, loan application fraud, false statements to the IRS, aggravated identity theft, obstruction of a grand jury investigation and falsification of records in a federal investigation.
Chesterfield Mayor Lawrence Durr, a Republican, was sentenced in April 2016 to four years probation after he admitted to filing false ethics disclosure forms that failed to disclose his financial relationship with a real estate developer. Durr was accused in an indictment of selling development rights on his farm to Renaissance Properties at a profit and then using his official positions to advance the company’s interests in Chesterfield.
file photo by Boyd Loving
September 19,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to a resort executive Andres Pichardo Rosenberg , Democrat Senator Menendez’s stays at the luxurious Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic gave him access to white-sand beaches, a marina filled with expensive yachts and five golf courses. The seven-acre gated community on the Caribbean also boasts the top-rated golf course in the Dominican Republic, six international restaurants, a security staff of 800, and access to elite sports like pheasant shooting. Pheasant shooting in Dominican Republic you ask, yes according to testimony eggs are imported and the birds are bred for sport .
Opthalmologist , Dr. Salomon Melgen, who owns a home that the Senator stayed in Casa de Campo. has denied that the home was a bribe, describing it as a modest getaway for the doctor and his close friends and family. Rosenberg stated that there are 1,850 private houses on the resort some costing over $10 million. Rosenberg estimated that homes in Melgen’s neighborhood are worth up to $2.5 million.
NJ Senator Menendez, 63, is accused of accepting lavish gifts from Melgen, including stays at the villa and flights on private jets, in exchange for helping the married eye doctor obtaining visas for his three foreign girlfriends and straightening out an $8.9 million tab for overbilling Medicare.
Recent testimony suggests that Menendez lived the life in Dominican Republic , also staying at the exclusive $765 per night Tortuga Bay Hotel and Punta Cana Resort & Club where Melgen shelled out another $766 for other amenities, including golf, bars and restaurants. Mind you this Dominican Republic where the GDP per Capita $6,733 per year
Melgen also footed the bill of $875 per hour for an 8 hour pick up in a chauffeured car for Menendez in Hoboken ,credit car receipts confirm that Menendez was brought to an upscale Chinese restaurant where Melgen was waiting for both him and the vehicle.
Testimony also revealed that Immediately after the FBI raided Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen’s West Palm Beach offices, Melgen’s son-in-law contacted the Federal Aviation Administration to block the public from tracking his private jet. Melgen’s private jet had been used several times to fly Menendez between New Jersey and Melgen’s vacation home in the Dominican Republic ,these flights prosecutors charge were bribes Melgen paid Menendez in exchange for official favors.
file photo by Boyd Loving
By James Pindell Globe Staff September 08, 2017
Amid the news coverage of hurricanes and all things President Trump, one could be forgiven for barely noticing that a corruption trial involving a sitting US senator began in New Jersey this week. In a few months, however, it might be the biggest thing we’re talking about — at least when it comes to politics.
That’s because the implications of the bribery case facing Democratic US Senator Bob Menendez could extend far beyond New Jersey. Why, you ask? Because it could ultimately affect the balance of power in Washington. Even stranger, it could lay the groundwork for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie — the least popular governor in America — to appoint himself to the Senate.
Advertisement
Of course, many things could affect the balance of power in the Senate. The difference is this one could happen in a matter of weeks.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/09/08/why-trial-could-make-american-politics-even-crazier/6SSTruVN1UIhl95QfHAqwL/story.html
Another payment alleged for Democrat Party Boss Ferriero
MARCH 27, 2015, 1:17 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015, 11:58 PM
BY PETER J. SAMPSON
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
A federal prosecutor on Friday alleged that Joseph A. Ferriero, the former Bergen County Democratic chief, was paid more than $100,000 by a criminal defense attorney after a Teaneck dermatologist was approved for a program that allowed him to sidestep prosecution on charges of groping female patients.
The money was in addition to the $100,000 federal authorities previously said Ferriero received from a Teaneck law firm that represented the doctor, Gangaram Ragi, in his successful attempt to retain his medical license.
Ferriero, on trial in federal court in Newark, is accused of using his influence as party chairman in a series of kickback, bribery and extortion schemes. The prosecution has rested, and the defense has begun calling witnesses.
After the jury was excused on Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig told the judge that the government has a right to bring up instances — not included in the indictment, such as the alleged payments — in which Ferriero allegedly used his political influence for profit.
