N.J. corruption sting nabs 44 rabbis, politicians

NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) A wide-ranging, 10-year probe of New Jersey corruption that led to charges against 44 religious and political leaders stems from the “pervasive nature of public corruption in this state,” acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra told reporters Thursday (July 23). The investigation has led to charges against prominent politicians including two members of […]

NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) A wide-ranging, 10-year probe of New Jersey corruption that led to charges against 44 religious and political leaders stems from the “pervasive nature of public corruption in this state,” acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra told reporters Thursday (July 23).

The investigation has led to charges against prominent politicians including two members of the State Assembly and the mayors of Hoboken, Secaucus and Ridgefield.

“The politicians willingly put themselves up for sale,” Marra said. “For these defendants, corruption was a way of life. They existed in an ethics-free zone.”


Rabbis from the Syrian Jewish enclaves of Deal, N.J., and Brooklyn, N.Y., were also arrested and charged with laundering $3 million through religious nonprofit organizations through a witness that cooperated with FBI and IRS investigators, Marra said.

“These rings, led by clergymen, cloaked their extensive criminal activity,” Marra said. “The rings were international in scope, connected to Deal, N.J., Brooklyn, Israel and Switzerland. The victims are the average citizens and the honest businesspeople of this state.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun said the Thursday morning arrests involved 300 agents in 54 locations in New York and New Jersey.

He called the scope of the charges “unprecedented because of the number and prominence of the individuals involved. This case uncovered a web of corruption that spanned the state.”

Dun said the efforts to investigate and prosecute corruption in New Jersey would only go so far.

“Corruption in this state will not end due to law enforcement’s effort,” Dun said. “It’s time for the citizens of New Jersey to ask what do we need to do to wipe the spider web of corruption off the face of this state.”


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