The mayors of three New Jersey cities, two state legislators and several rabbis were among more than

(23 Jul 2009) HEADLINE: N.J. corruption bust nets mayors and rabbis --------------------------------------- CAPTION: A sweeping corruption investigation in New Jersey has ensnared mayors, state legislators and several rabbis. (July 23) ---------------------------------------- [Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] SOT: Ralph Marra Jr. Acting U.S. Attorney: “corruption was a way of life. They existed in an ethics free zone.“ The mayors of three New Jersey cities, two state legislators and several rabbis are among more than 40 people arrested in a sweeping corruption investigation that began as a probe into an international money laundering ring that trafficked in goods as diverse as human organs and fake designer handbags. SOT: Weysan Dun Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Newark Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “the list of people we arrested sounds like the roster for a meeting of leaders. But they weren’t meeting in a boardrooom but an FBI booking room.“ Among the notable faces in this perp walk -- the mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, elected just this june,. He’s charged with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes. The common denominator for all these people -- a cooperating government witness. SOT: Ralph Marra Jr. Acting U.S. Attorney: “when the cw offered 10 thousand camarrone says great and we’re going to be friends for a long time.“ The mayor of Secaucus, New Jersey, is charged with taking $10,000 in bribes. One state lawmaker is accused of accepting $10-GRAND from the government witness who posed as a developer, seeking help in getting permits for a project.. SOT: SOT: Ralph Marra Jr. Acting U.S. Attorney; “our cw had his projects moved up because he paid up.“ Also busted -- several rabbis charged with laundering proceeds from selling fake Gucci and Prada bags. SOT: SOT: Ralph Marra Jr. Acting U.S. Attorney; “these complaints paint a disgraceful picture of religions leaders having money laudering crews acting as crimes bosses. They used charities.“ One rabbi is also charged with trafficking kidneys from Israeli donors. SOT: SOT: Ralph Marra Jr. Acting U.S. Attorney; “He enticed people to give up a kidney for 10,000 and he’d sell for 160,000.“ New Jersey’s governor calls the scale of corruption unfolding “simply outrageous.“ Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: