Peter Cammarano and the FBI Raids

25th July 2009. Today the FBI arrested dozens of officials and politicians across New Jersey. When I first heard this story I thought that it centred upon corruptions within the planning system. In fact, major money laundering organisation and organised crime racket has been exposed.

Two years ago the FBI and Inland Revenue Service began an investigation into the banking irregularities of a Syrian Jew living in the seaside town of Deal, New Jersey. The investigation broadened when the suspect turned informant leading to the recent arrests. This informant has led to the arrest of  44 people who laundered $3m through networks with branches in the US, Israel and Switzerland, and paid more than $650,000 in bribes to the corrupt politicians . One man was charged with conspiracy to traffic human organs.

The public figures arrested include the Hoboken mayor Peter Cammarano III, the Secaucus mayor Dennis Elwell, the Jersey City deputy mayor Leona Beldini, the  state legislator Daniel Van Pelt, officials in the state capital, and several Syrian-Jewish rabbis who are believed to have laundered illicit cash through charities they controlled.

These arrests are a particular blow to the Democrat Peter Cammarano.  Peter Cammarano (aged just 32) was elected mayor of Hoboken on June 9 and accepted office on July 1.  The election was contentious. During the run-off a ‘box’ was found containing hundreds of votes in favour of Cammarano., In his election pledge, Peter Cammarano promised to lower taxes, reform government, and deliver real change for  Hoboken   His new cabinet has not been formally approved by the Council. Cammarano is charged with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes from an undercover cooperating witness.

In April Cammarano attended a dinner at the Yeshiva school in Deal. At the dinner he enthusiastically promised to help the informant develop property in exchange for cash.

There is some pressure that  Peter Cammarano should step down.  On 14th July the Hoboken Housing Commissioner, Hector Claveria, was arrested for taking bribes. Although Hector Claveria was a strong supporter of the new mayor Peter Cammarono asked him to resign or be forced from office to preserve the reputation of the Council.

Constitutionally Cammarano is the only person who can appoint an acting mayor in his absence.   Cammarano can appoint from within his city directors, or the city clerk. A regular major cannot be appointed until he resigned. Since his new directors have not been t confirmed by the City Council, the only director who could be confirmed is John Pope, who was already a city director and would just be moving to a different department, or long-time city clerk James Farina could be chosen.  A regular mayor cannot be appointed until Cammarano resigns.  For the time being Hoboken is being run by state appointed financial monitor Judy Tripodi.

Should Cammarano decide to resign voluntarily the job of mayor would immediately go to the presiding officer of the municipal governing body. That would be Dawn Zimmer, president of the Hoboken City Council. Zimmer was Cammarano’s rival in the June election and would able to stand in an election to find a new mayor.

On 31st July Peter Cammarano resigned and Dawn Zimmer was sworn in as the acting mayor.

New Jersey has a long history of political corruption.