|
This belongs to you. Take it back...
FBI 
Thu Jul 23, 2009 at 10:05:04 AM EDT
|
|
It's a bad day to be a corrupt politician (or even a corrupt rabbi) in New Jersey this morning. The FBI is arresting dozens of them in a money laundering and corruption probe.
N.J. politicians, rabbis arrested in federal money laundering sweep
NEWARK -- Federal authorities arrested dozens of people today in New York and New Jersey as part of a money laundering and corruption sweep. Those arrested included several New Jersey public officials and rabbis.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Newark later today. Those arrested include Assembly Daniel Van Pelt (R-Ocean), Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell and Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, and Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega.
Nearly 20 people, including Cammarano, Elwell, and Vega, have already been led into the FBI building in Newark to face the charges.
This one looks big. They've got the mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus, Assemblymen, the Deputy Mayor of Jersey City and even rabbis in Brooklyn.
Dirty Jersey: Feds Bust Dozens in Corruption Scandal
Corruption sweep to be among biggest in state history
The mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus were among 30 people arrested in early morning raids across New Jersey this morning as federal officials unveiled a long-ranging probe into public corruption and international money laundering, officials said.
FBI and IRS rounded up scores of elected officials and several rabbis across the state in what is being described as one of the biggest investigations of its kind in Jersey's scandal-plagued history.
It appears to be a corruption-related investigation but Justice Department and FBI spokesmen would only say the corruption involved a "high-volume international money-laundering conspiracy." It is said to involve rabbis in the Syrian Jewish enclave in Brooklyn and Deal, New Jersey. The probe is said to have started when money transfers drew the interests of the feds who followed the trail back to small-town Jersey corruption.
Among those arrested this morning were Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano and Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, authorities said. Several area rabbis and other community leaders and politicians, including Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega, were brought into custody in connection with this case, officials said.
I guess the FBI has been working on this case for a long time. Maybe now that they have nabbed these crooks, they'll have a little more time on their hands to focus their attention elsewhere, like, maybe on this side of the Hudson...
Update: WHOA!
The probe also involves the trafficking of body parts, according to a person familiar with the matter. One of the individuals who was arrested Thursday morning is an alleged organ dealer, this person said.
Money laundering, corruption and trafficking in body parts? Holy crap!
Update 2: Even more WHOA!
Officials say separate from the corruption probe, some of the suspects charged today were also connected to an illegal human organ-selling ring. Investigators say some charged would take cash payments to help find organs for sick patients in need of transplants. It's unclear where the body parts might have come from or how many surgeries may have been done. The FBI, IRS and U.S. Attorney's office all declined comment saying details will be given at the press conference.
snip
Defendant Issac Rosenbaum, meanwhile, was caught up in a shady organ procurement program, where an undercover FBI agent and the cooperating witness pretended to need a human liver for the undercover's sick uncle, the feds charge.
"Let me explain this to you," said Rosenbaum on February 26, 2008 according to the court documents. "It's illegal to buy [ a liver]. It's illegal to sell.They are going to investigate him [the donor] not you, not your uncle. He's going to speak to a social worker and a psychologist to find out why he is doing it... and it is our job to prepare him."
The cost would be $160,000 for the liver donation - 50 percent up front - but Rosenbaum repeatedly made it clear, according to court papers, "It's illegal to buy or sell organs. .. . So you cannot buy it. What you do is, you're giving a compensation for the time . . . whatever--he's not working. You can't even mention."
Wow. Double you tee eff?
|
|
Discuss
:: (0
Comments)
|
|
Sun Jan 04, 2009 at 14:40:21 PM EST
|
|
For the last 3 years former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has been under investigation by the FBI. At first glance one would think that after 3 years the FBI would be able to wrap up its investigation and file charges.
At second glance... one realizes that wherever the FBI turns it discovers yet one more area of Joe Bruno's life that needs investigating.
Today's Albany Times Union brings us the latest in the epic saga.
ALBANY - The FBI's investigation of former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno has expanded to the Research Foundation of the State University of New York, according to sources familiar with the probe.
In particular, a knowledgeable source said, the FBI is probing the work activities of Susan M. Bruno, the elder daughter of the former Senate leader.
|
|
There's More...
:: (2
Comments, 1082 words in story)
|
|
Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 09:55:00 AM EST
|
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been arrested by FBI agents today following a three-year investigation into Blagojevich's alleged pay-to-play politics, including who Blagojevich is looking at to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate:
A three-year federal corruption investigation of pay-to-play politics in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration has expanded to include his impending selection of a new U.S. senator to succeed President-elect Barack Obama, the Tribune has learned.
Federal authorities got approval from a judge before the November general election to secretly record the governor, sources told the Tribune, and among their concerns was whether the selection process might be tainted. That possibility has become a focus in an intensifying investigation that has included recordings of the governor and the cooperation of one of his closest friends.
The governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing. The specific contents of the recent recordings have not been disclosed. Blagojevich has said the appointment of a Senate successor, which is his choice alone, could come in a matter of weeks.
Blagojevich was arrested along with his chief of staff.
UPDATE: This just in from Politico: "FBI: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich conspired to sell or trade Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat for benefits."
UPDATE II: Amherst Guy asked a very good question in the comments to see if anyone else noticed who the federal prosecutor is. This press release tells the whole story: The prosecutor on this case is Patrick Fitzgerald, who was the U.S. Attorney in charge of prosecuting the CIA leak case. He has also made quite a name for himself prosecuting corruption cases in Illinois featuring former Gov. George Ryan and aides to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.
UPDATE III: This from MSNBC:
He noted becoming a U.S. senator might remake his image for a possible presidential run in 2016, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit quotes Blagojevich telling an adviser later that day that a Senate seat "is a [expletive] valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."
In a conversation with Harris on November 4, the day of the election, Blagojevich is alleged to have compared his situation to that of a sports agent shopping a potential free agent to the highest bidder.
On November 5, Blagojevich allegedly told an adviser, "I've got this thing and it's [expletive] golden, and, uh, uh, I'm just not giving it up for [expletive] nothing. I'm not gonna do it."
We know all about scandals here in New York. Remember Eliot Spitzer's? That pales in comparison to this scandal. Essentially what it says is that Blagojevich wasn't interesting in governing. He was interested in using his power and influence to make money. Not exactly what the people of Illinois elected him to do.
Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but this is a mess.
|
|
Discuss
:: (36
Comments)
|
|
Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 11:14:31 AM EST
|
Those are the words of Bruno's spokesman, John McArdle, a man we pay $180,000 a year and provide a car for for the purposes of lying on Bruno's behalf and acting as a partisan attack dog.
John McArdle, a spokesman for Mr. Bruno, said: "We've cooperated with the inquiry. He's not been accused of anything, and I think that's all we're saying."
Not exactly the strongest statement from John. I really expect more of our public servants...
|
|
Discuss
:: (0
Comments)
|
|
Mon Feb 04, 2008 at 11:04:41 AM EST
|
Some detail from the Times Union story about fresh Brunogate subpoenas that Robert links below.
Federal agents have demanded business records from several Albany-area labor unions that have sent tens of millions of dollars to investment firms that employed state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno over the past decade, according to labor representatives and other sources.
FBI agents served subpoenas last week on the unions' pension and welfare fund leaders. The unions include Laborers Local 190 and Teamsters Local 294, among others.
The FBI told the labor organizations to produce records involving Wright Investors Service of Milford, Conn., and its holding company, Winthrop Corp., Bruno's longtime employers before his abrupt resignation in December.
The subpoenas, signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Coombe of the Albany office, also call for any union records involving Bruno and his Brunswick consulting company, Capital Business Consultants. Coombe said Saturday she had no comment.
I think the nature of the relationship between Bruno and Wright/Winthrop can be neatly summed up by this paragraph:
Bruno, the top Republican in the state and majority leader since 1995, served as a business development agent for Wright, or Winthrop Corp., since about the time he took over his leadership post in the Senate.
Nice.
|
|
Discuss
:: (1
Comments)
|
|
Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 08:18:12 AM EST
|
(Shall we open a blog pool to guess the indictment date? - promoted by NYBri)
Joseph Bruno has long been touted for his successful business skills. His story has long been that he took a few thousand dollars and turned it into a fortune with the Coradian company. After selling it he went on to diversify and go into politics.
That may be what he tells his friends up in Albany but the truth sounds more like the business ventures of George Bush. Bruno has overseen many business failures and most of his wealth comes from a consulting firm with and unlisted phone number and un-named clients.
Crossposted from Joshing Politics
|
|
There's More...
:: (3
Comments, 731 words in story)
|
|
Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 11:33:11 AM EST
|
|
Ughh. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit, though I can't say I'm terribly surprised.
From Capitol Confidential:
AFL-CIO In Bruno's Corner
AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes just released a statement of support for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, saying the senator has "proven himself time and again to be a man of honor and unquestionable integrity."
"The labor movement has no better friend than Senator Bruno," Hughes continues. "He has consistently fought to protect and enhance the lives and well-being of working people, often at great political risk.
"Senator Bruno's lengthy and distinguished career speaks volumes to his character. As such, there should be no rush to judgment regarding his ability to lead.
"The New York State AFL-CIO fully supports Senator Bruno's leadership and looks forward to continuing to work with Senator Bruno, Speaker Silver, all members of the state legislature and Governor-Elect Spitzer in our efforts to further the cause of working men and women across this state."
Liz goes on to say that she wouldn't be surprised to see a similar statement from Dennis Rivera and SEIU in the next few days. I agree. Rivera's willingness to sell out SEIU's founding principles to protect Bruno and his job has a long and sordid history.
|
|
There's More...
:: (4
Comments, 227 words in story)
|
|
Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 18:23:47 PM EST
|
|
And out come the knives. It was only a matter of time and the subject of much IM conversation with another TAPper all day today. John Bonacic has become the first Senate Republican to publicly call for Joe Bruno to step down as Majority Leader.
According to the Times Herald-Record, Bonacic feels it's time for Bruno to go.
With a federal investigation swirling around state Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, Catskills-area Sen. John Bonacic has become the first Senate Republican to publicly urge his boss to give up the leadership post.
In an interview with the Times Herald-Record this afternoon, Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, said that the recently disclosed probe into Bruno's business dealings has undermined the Senate boss' authority. He said it also threatens to weaken the state Republican Party, of which Bruno is the de facto leader.
"He's been damaged and this ongoing investigation will impair his ability to lead," Bonacic said. "He should step down as majority leader, even if it's temporarily, until the cloud is removed."
Bruno's office did not immediately return a call for comment.
Sen. William Larkin, R-Cornwall-on-Hudson, a member of the Senate leadership, accused Bonacic at taking a "potshot" at Bruno.
"John Bonacic can say what he wants, but I'm telling you that, not only me, but a lot of others support Joe Bruno. I'm standing behind him because I think he's doing a good job and I haven't heard anything to change my mind about him."
Et Tu Bonacic?
|
|
Discuss
:: (6
Comments)
|
|
Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 17:57:18 PM EST
|
 Stop the presses. Just got this email from a fellow TAPper:
State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Brunswick) just held a hastily called press conference to announce that he is being investigated by the FBI. I just caught a phone report from Fred Dicker on the local newscast and the following is from the Albany Times Union Capital Confidential blog.
More from Capitol Confidential:
Bruno Being Investigated By FBI
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, called a press conference to confirm he is being investigated by the FBI, which has launched an inquiry into his business dealings through his consulting company, Capital Business Consultants.
Bruno said his has been told he is not a target of the investigation, which first came to his attention in the late spring. He said he decided to announce this tonight because the story had been leaked to the media - he went out of his way to insist that more than one outlet was working on this story.
Late Spring?
The senator refused to discuss what, exactly, the FBI is looking into. He declined to say whether it has anything to do with Evident Technologies Inc. - the company to which he steered two state grants.
Bruno has personal ties to Evident's principals, Jared Abbruzzese and Wayne Barr - both of whom share the senator's keen interest in horse racing.
Bruno said he doesn't believe that this inquiry will affect his ability to serve as majority leader - a post to which he was recently re-elected by Senate Republicans. It's unclear whether the senators had any inkling of the FBI probe when they unanimously tapped Bruno to serve another two years as leader.
Yeah, they might have thought more than two seconds about returning him to the Majority Leader spot if they knew he was BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FREAKIN' FBI.
I'm sure there will be more to come on this story in the next few days. Should be interesting.
More Coverage:
Federal Investigation Swirling Around Joe Bruno
|
|
There's More...
:: (30
Comments, 174 words in story)
|
|
|
|
|
|
