RONALD MANZO

Former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell was indicted today on federal charges of taking $10,000 in bribes in exchange for help with development approvals.

Elwell, who resigned shortly after his July 23 arrest, allegedly promised to expedite development projects for Solomon Dwek – a government cooperating witness posing as a developer under an assumed name – in exchange for the money.

Also indicted was Ronald Manzo, brother of former Assemblyman and five-time Jersey City mayoral candidate Louis Manzo.  Ronald Manzo, who is charged with taking $5,000 to facilitate the relationship between Elwell and Dwek, was indicted last month along with his brother on separate corruption charges.

According to the indictment, Dwek gave Elwell – through Manzo -- $10,000 and promised another $10,000 after the June 2 primary.  

“Don’t treat me like an opponent. Don’t treat me like an enemy. Treat me like a friend and help me. Just support my stuff. Expedite my applications. That’s all,” the indictment quotes Dwek as telling Elwell at a Hoboken diner.   

Elwell, the indictment contends, “nodded his head affirmatively in response.”

Former Assemblyman Louis Manzo (D-Jersey City) and his brother, Ronald, pleaded not guilty to corruption charges today.

The Jersey Journal covered the arraignment.  

The two are accused of taking $27,500 in bribes from FBI informant Solomon Dwek during Louis Manzo’s mayoral campaign earlier this year.  They are also accused of promising Dwek that they would promote former Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Director Maher Khalil to a higher position in city government.  

Khalil, who set up meetings between Dwek and several other officials charged in the massive July corruption sting, pleaded guilty last month to taking $72,500 in bribes from Dwek.  

Louis Manzo, who ran for Mayor of Jersey City five times, was indicted today on federal corruption charges

Former Assemblyman Louis Manzo (D-Jersey City), who was arrested on July 23 as part of Operation Bid Rig, was indicted today on charges that he took a $27,500 bribe from a government witness - believed to be Solomon Dwek - in exchange for help on a development matter after he became Mayor.  Manzo lost his bid to unseat incumbent Jerramiah Healy last spring by a wide margin.

Manzo's brother, insurance executive Ronald Manzo, was also indicted.

The Manzo's are accused of conspiring with two then-Jersey City officials, Edward Cheatam and Maher Khalil, and with a "now-deceased political consultant" - believed to be Jack Shaw.  Cheatam and Khalil have already pleaded guilty.

The two accepted envelopes with cash outside a Staten Island restaurant, according to the indictment.

From the  U.S. Attorney's press release:

District 22 GOP Assembly candidate Martin Marks this afternoon doubled down on his criticism of Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) for accepting campaign contributions from three men charged last Thursday with corruption.

During her failed District 7 Congressional run last year, Stender received money from Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, former Assemblyman Lou Manzo, and Manzo's brother, Ronald, all of whom were charged in federal court last week with taking cash bribes related to their own 2009 campaign bids.

"Linda Stender cites technicalities in explaining why she should not
return nearly $4000 in dirty money donated to her by three machine Democrats now under indictment," fumed Marks.

Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood)

Republicans waging a longshot challenge in Legislative District 22 seized on Assemblywoman Linda Stender's 7th Congressional District campaign finances, which include contributions made by three men stung in last week's federal corruption probe. 

Martin Marks and Bo Vastine want Stender to return campaign contributions she received last year from Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, former Assemblyman Lou Manzo and his brother Ronald Manzo, a suggestion the Stender camp calls ridiculous since the account is already closed.

“I spent 9 years as the Mayor of Scotch Plains and the thought of any elected official accepting a bribe makes me sick," said Marks. "Linda Stender should immediately return the almost $4,000 in campaign contributions she received from Mayor Peter Cammarano and the Manzo brothers. These men are alleged to have accepted cash bribes in an attempt to peddle their political influence, and that should have no place here in the 22nd District."

Assemblyman Tony Chiappone (D-Bayonne)

BAYONNE - Assemblyman Tony Chiappone (D-Bayonne) confirmed that he's the state assemblyman identified in the federal complaint against Lou and Ronald Manzo who JC Official #1 describes inadvertently running into as he and Ronald Manzo met confidential witness Solomon Dwek in the parking lot of the Lighthouse Restaurant. 

According to the Manzo complaint, "On or about April 23, 2009, at approximately 4:26 a.m., FBI agents intercepted an incoming call to the consultant's cellphone from JC Official #1. During that call, JC Official #1 said, 'Hey, you now after we left the Bayonne meeting, me, me, Ronald Manzo and the CW was in the uh, uh, parking lot... guess who we run into?'"

The complaint puts the words "state assemblyman" in brackets.

"I didn't want nothing to do with the guy," JC Official #1 says, according to the feds. "I didn't even want him to see me."