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Smith indicted

Author: Matt Friedman
02.09.10
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A federal grand jury indicted former Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith (D-Jersey City) on five counts of extortion, accepting corrupt payments and money laundering for allegedly taking $15,000 in bribes from an FBI informant, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today. 

The indictment alleges that Smith, then a candidate for Jersey City mayor, took a $5,000 bribe from informant Solomon Dwek through Edward Cheatam, another corruption case defendant,  in exchange for help with purported real estate developments and converted it into contributions to his campaign account. 

Smith allegedly made calls on behalf of Dwek and told him that he could "get the ball rolling" with the Department of Environmental Protection on environmental  issues at a purported Garfield Avenue development site in Jersey City.

At a July meeting, which took place two months after Smith placed third in the mayoral election, Dwek told Smith he was “generous.”

“[a]ccording to your standards you’re generous,” the indictment quotes Smith as answering him. 

A federal grand jury indicted former Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith (D-Jersey City) on five counts of extortion, accepting corrupt payments and money laundering for allegedly taking $15,000 in bribes from an FBI informant, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today. 

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Jersey City councilman makes surprise guilty plea in corruption case

Author: Matt Friedman
10.06.09
Newly-elected Jersey City councilman Phil Kenny made a surprise guilty plea in federal court today for accepting $5,000 in bribes, The Jersey Journal reports.Kenny was sworn in for his first full term in July after being elected to his first full term in May.  He already had the advantage of incumbency, after being sworn in in April to take over for Mary Spinello, who left the council to head the city's parking authority. Today he admitted taking $5,000 from an FBI informant posing as a developer. Kenny, who also works as the office manager for the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, was not one of the 44 public officials and money laundering suspects originally charged, however.  Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega -- who has refused to step down -- was.  
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