Legal News

Breaking: Sweep of Arrests Underway in ?Major? N.J. Corruption Probe

By Ashby Jones

We’ll hopefully know more about this story in a few hours, it seems, but for now, let’s give you at least the basics. The AP has reported (no link available) that FBI agents are sweeping across northern New Jersey on Thursday, making arrests in what reportedly is described as a major corruption probe.

WNBC-TV in New York reported and showed images of the mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus being taken into FBI headquarters in Newark. The station also showed rabbis being taken into custody. The sweeps are reportedly taking place in Hudson, Bergen, Monmouth and Ocean counties.

TV and radio stations say the probe centers on money-laundering and political bid rigging. FBI spokeswoman Myrna Williams tells The Associated Press the arrests will go on till noon, at which point we’re hoping to have more information. According to the Newark Star Ledger, A total of 30 people have been taken into custody, officials said.

The Star-Ledger reports that the arrests are the result of a two-year FBI and IRS probe that began with an investigation of money transfers by members of the Syrian-Jewish communities in New Jersey and Brooklyn. Those arrested this morning include key religious leaders in the tight-knit, wealthy communities.

No indictments have yet been handed down, but some might come later today, the Star-Ledger reports.

Below is some video of a litany of people being led away in cuffs, from NBC New York.

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on July 23, 2009 (boomark / email).