Three former Monmouth County officials sentenced to prison
A federal judge sentenced three former public officials from Monmouth County to prison on corruption charges today, saying the FBI sting that brought them and dozens of others down showed "the arrogance of power permeated through" the region's political community. The three hearings before U.S. District Judge William Martini were the first in a wave to come this week stemming from Operation Bid Rig, a two-year FBI probe in Monmouth County that resulted in charges against 48 people, about half of them public officials. Many of the officials, including those sentenced today, took cash from an FBI informant posing as a crooked contractor.
Three former Monmouth County officials sentenced to prison
by Jeff Whelan
Tuesday October 23, 2007, 2:40 PM
A federal judge sentenced three former public officials from Monmouth County to prison on corruption charges today, saying the FBI sting that brought them and dozens of others down showed "the arrogance of power permeated through" the region's political community.
The three hearings before U.S. District Judge William Martini were the first in a wave to come this week stemming from Operation Bid Rig, a two-year FBI probe in Monmouth County that resulted in charges against 48 people, about half of them public officials. Many of the officials, including those sentenced today, took cash from an FBI informant posing as a crooked contractor.
"It reminded me of sharks in the water feeding off a dead carcass," said Martini.
The three sentenced today cooperated with authorities, but to varying degrees, which Martini reflected in their sentences.
Former county bridges superintendent Anthony Palughi, who wore a wire and testified against another official and then attempted suicide under the stress, was sentenced to 8 months behind bars.
Former West Long Branch Mayor Paul Zambrano, who provided information to authorities that helped lead to the guilty plea of powerful former state Sen. John Lynch, was sentenced to one year and a day behind bars.
But Martini sentenced former Keyport Mayor John Merla to 22 months in prison. The judge noted that the other two cooperators flipped at the first given opportunity. But Merla, he said, remained defiant for nearly two years, publicly proclaiming his innocence and refusing to step down as mayor. The judge said that even when Merla did finally cooperate, it didn't do more than confirm what investigators already knew. |