The mayors of two New Jersey cities and a state legislator were arrested Thursday in connection with a major corruption and international money-laundering conspiracy probe. Some of the suspects were also allegedly involved in an illegal human organ-selling ring.
Among the approximately 30 people arrested were Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, who took office 23 days ago, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, state Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt and Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.
An FBI spokesman told NBC affiliate WNBC that the investigation involved a “high-volume international money-laundering conspiracy.”
WNBC reported that some of the suspects also were accused of accepting cash payments that were taken to help find organs for sick patients in need of transplants. It was unclear where the body parts might have come from or how many surgeries may have been done.
Van Pelt is accused of accepting $10,000 from a government witness posing as a developer seeking permit help.
Several rabbis in New York and New Jersey were also taken into custody, federal prosecutors said.
At one point, cars were backed up four deep with suspects outside the FBI’s Newark office. One agent slowly walked an elderly rabbi into the building.
FBI and IRS agents made the roundups in what is being described as one of the biggest investigations of its kind in state history, according to WNBC.
The probe is said to have been launched when money transfers drew the interests of federal investigators.
The Newark-based Star-Ledger newspaper reported that investigators removed at least three boxes of evidence from a Jewish school. A synagogue in Deal, N.J., was also searched.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who has fought corruption in New Jersey’s largest city, said it’s “an unbelievable morning so far.”
A news conference was scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET at the U.S. attorney’s office in Newark.
In recent years, New Jersey has seen more than 130 corruption-related convictions of public officials.
Earlier this month, prosecutors alleged that Assemblyman Joseph Vas, a former Perth Amboy mayor, engaged in a scheme with a political adviser to funnel money through people who were given funds to make contributions.
Vas had previously been accused of using his political influence to further a real estate deal that netted him nearly $300,000.
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