April 8, 2009 - 11:35am
News

Reid sentenced to 51 months

Keith Reid, the former Chief of Staff to Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, was sentenced to 51 months in a prison.  Last November, after his federal corruption trial had already started, Reid pleaded guilty to accepting $15,500 in bribes from an undercover FBI agent seeking insurance brokerage business for at least two municipalities, Newark and Irvington.

"That is an appropriately long prison sentence that indeed sends a strong message and warning to public officials like Reid who want to leverage their positions for unlawful personal gain," said Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra, Jr.

Reid admitted that in July 2007 he used his influence to set up a meeting between Crump and the FBI undercover company and advocated for that company at the meeting.  After the meeting, he met an FBI cooperating witness in a parked car and accepted a cash bribe.  The following month, he set up a meeting with an Irvington official - believed to be Mayor Wayne Smith - and the FBI sting operation. 

Reid will remain free on bond until June 10. 

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