Ferriero guilty on conspiracy, mail fraud charges
By Editor
Former Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero, who was one of New Jersey's most powerful political leaders for a decade, was convicted of federal corruption charges today. A jury found Ferriero guilty of one count of conspiracy - the most serious charge - and two counts of mail fraud. He was acquitted on five other mail fraud charges.
Ferriero was accused of defrauding Bergenfield after he and Borough Attorney Dennis Oury obtained a contract for a grants writing company they owned. Oury, who was Ferriero's co-defendant, pleaded guilty days before the trial was set to start, and testified against the former party leader. The jury found that Ferriero defrauded the borough of Oury's "honest services."
"This case is a glaring example of someone who used his power and influence to corrupt a public official, and we are gratified that the jury saw it that way," said U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. "This office will continue its tradition of aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who think that they can enrich themselves and their friends at the public's expense."
"The verdict puts an end to an era of abusive power and politics by Mr. Ferriero," said FBI
Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun. "From this verdict, we learn again that the citizens of New Jersey must play an active role in their government and question their leaders. They must inquire who stands to profit from the deals and decisions off their leaders. If the answers to those questions don't add up or are unsatisfactory, then citizens must not be afraid to enlist the help of the FBI."
Ferriero and Oury were indicted last September on charges that they created a grants writing company to seek public contracts, and deliberately concealed their financial interests while Ferriero, a County Chairman, helped send new business to the firm.
The jury believed federal prosecutors who said that the Bergenfield Borough Council appointed Oury as their attorney and at the same January 1, 2002 meeting voted to give the grants writing firm a retainer and a percentage of grants or loans they obtained for the municipality. Oury, who did not disclose his conflict, used his position as municipal attorney to add to the profits of the Bergenfield contract.
During the trial, prosecutors revealed that Oury and Ferriero took steps to conceal their personal financial interests in the grants writing firm, including an attempt to find others to act as public faces.
In 2002, Bergen County awarded Bergenfield at $1.4 million Green Acres grant, an $800 estate acquisition grant, and a $600,000 grant and loan package. Ferriero's firm received $128,625 in fees for that work. Ferriero got a check - which he signed himself - for $27,538.
The 52-year-old Ferriero, who was elected County Chairman in 1998, is due to be sentenced on February 10. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
His attorney, Joseph Hayden, told The Record that he would appeal.
"We believe [theft of honest services] is a controversial theory of prosecution, and we plan to challenge it all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to," The Record quoted Hayden as saying.
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Syndicate
Good.
The Democrats certainly don't need this louse guiding their party, and the people of NJ don't need him either.
PayBack
All the money that has driven my taxes sky high
This article was edited.
Several minutes ago it indictaed that Joseph Ferriero was a Republican, which is certainly not the case.
Another great job by Christie. He should bring it up in today's debate.
Yayyyyyyyyyyy "Boss Joe" Goes To Jail!!! (maybe)
There IS some justice now and then! Thanks God the system isn't yet totally fixed and totally corrupt, there is some hope!!!
Speaking of hope, I hope that the prosecutors present Ferriero with an option to give up other corrupt actors in exchange for recommending a lighter or even a suspended sentence.
If Ferriero, ever told EVERYTHING he knew about EVERYONE who was involved in corrupt activity it would be well worth seeing him be a totally free man.
Barring such an agreement, the judge should throw the book at Ferriero and sentence him to the maximum penalty, whatever it is.
No doubt, his attorney's will appeal (and ask that Joe remain free pending all appeals) all the way.....and it wouldn't surprise me if the Republican appointee dominated SCOTUS ends up overturning......but for now, let's celebrate this modicum of victory.
This should not be the end,
This should not be the end, but the beginning of a full scale investigation into everyone and everything this convicted felon influenced in Bergen and beyond. Ed Norton should rest easy tonight, there should be lots of overtime work to be done in Hackensack at and around 1 Bergen Plaza.
Judge Ferriero Judge Mizdol Judge Hollenbeck
Mrs. Joseph Ferriero is also known as "Your Honor" down at Workers Comp Court.
Oury and Mizdol dissolved their partnership when Bonnie Mizdol became a Bergen County Judge.
Judge Hollenbeck is related to the Hollenbeck at Scarinci.
Ferriero is still a partner at Scarinci and Hollenbeck.
Donald Scarinci hid out in Florida when he got caught committing fraud to get a murderous mobster out of jail on parole.
Scarinci and Hollenbeck have as many Republican towns under their thumbs as they do Democratic towns.
The daily news describes Bernie Kerik as having engaged in "Jersey style corruption"
With leaders like these...
Don't Forget Norcross
What about the Camden County Boss. He should be the MAIN one
Give Credit where Credit is DUE!
I am glad to see the bi-partisan condemnation of Ferriero here. We should all be proud of our system.
But to give Chris Christie the credit here misses the point. It was DEMOCRATS who referred this matter to the FBI/US Attorney, it was DEMOCRATS who took a risk and decided to leap frog the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office for fear of political meddling, and it is Democrats who protested in the cold rains of January; lobbied and were determined to root out the systemic corruption in Bergen County.
AND, it will be this Democrat (soon to be Independant again)who votes for the Republican candidates for Freeholder.
Best regards to all.
South Jersey needs to stand up
We wish South Jersey would do the same. The people are too scared. This the main problem and it will get worse if this election goes for Corzine. Norcross will control the whole state. Who knows, he probably put that Bergan guy in there.
Cold, Dark and Evil
This guy will do whatever it takes to protect his butt. He has NO heart.
Bill Brennen's Words......
...bear repeating........
>>>>>>"Mrs. Joseph Ferriero is also known as "Your Honor" down at Workers Comp Court.
Oury and Mizdol dissolved their partnership when Bonnie Mizdol became a Bergen County Judge.
Judge Hollenbeck is related to the Hollenbeck at Scarinci.
Ferriero is still a partner at Scarinci and Hollenbeck.
Donald Scarinci hid out in Florida when he got caught committing fraud to get a murderous mobster out of jail on parole.
Scarinci and Hollenbeck have as many Republican towns under their thumbs as they do Democratic towns.
The daily news describes Bernie Kerik as having engaged in "Jersey style corruption"<<<<<<<
Does anyone in their right mind really believe that this relatively minor conviction has "cleaned up" Bergen County???
Had Chris Christie done a proper job he would have used the RICO statutes and would have instituted massive use of wiretaps and would have taken the time required to allow all the rats to get aboard the sinking ship. If Christie had used all the tools at his disposal for seven years he would have netted more than a thousand convictions and would have DESERVED to be governor!!! Instead he'll go down as a hypocritical loser.
As it is now, the "nice judgie" will likely let Joe skate on bail pending appeals and the corrupt right wing Bush dominated SCOTUS will issue forth a 5 to 4 ruling that says corruption is legal in their America.
I'll be happily surprised if Boss Joe even spends even an hour in jail. Come on Judge, make my day.
When Ferriero took over he just did the same thing the Republicans did but he did it more effectively and on a larger scale; the dirty SYSTEM is still in place throughout the state.
If the "nice judgie" sentences Joe Ferriero to anything LESS than the maximum of twenty years that will be just one more indication of how corrupt our system is.
Violating the public trust is a kind of treason. It undermines our democracy as much (if not MORE) than a physically violent terrorist attack, and the punishment should be commensurate with the crime. A REAL punishment would actually BE a deturrent for these clever scumbags who can calculate risk/reward rations.
As it stands now, Joe and his cronies may be a little battered and bruised, but they're on their feet and laughing all the way to their offshore numbered bank accounts.