Ex-Secaucus mayor indicted on 3 counts Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell was indicted Tuesday on charges of pocketing a $10,000 bribe — and conspiring to take $20,000 more — from a cooperating witness posing as a developer looking to build a hotel in the Meadowlands.

A federal grand jury in Newark returned a three-count indictment accusing Elwell and alleged middleman Ronald Manzo of plotting with Edward Cheatam, a former Jersey City official, and others to shake down the undercover informant, who was secretly working with the FBI.

Elwell, 64, who resigned from office within days of his July arrest, declined to comment on the advice of his lawyer. His arrest was part of a sweep that netted more than 40 people in a public corruption and money laundering sting, including three mayors, two assemblymen and five rabbis.

Defense lawyer Thomas J. Cammarata of Jersey City said Elwell intends to plead not guilty and fight the charges.

As outlined in the indictment, Manzo, 65, a Bayonne businessman and political advisor, met with Cheatam; Jack Shaw, a now-deceased political consultant; and the cooperator at a Hoboken diner on April 27. They discussed the cooperator's interest in developing real estate in Secaucus and his willingness to "invest" in Elwell in return for his official support.

The indictment alleges:

The cooperator, who has been identified as Solomon Dwek, advised Manzo in April that if Elwell was amenable, Dwek could give $10,000 in cash immediately and an equal sum after the election.

A month later, on May 28, Elwell and Manzo joined Dwek and Cheatam at a hotel restaurant in Secaucus, where they discussed a mutually beneficial relationship that would be greased by thousands of dollars in cash for the mayor.

Dwek wanted assurances that he had the support of town officials before "coming in" to Secaucus. "I'm trying to make a relationship, you know. I'm here … you're here … we'll help each other," it quotes Dwek as saying.

"Right," Elwell allegedly replied.

As the meeting concluded, Dwek told Elwell he wanted to give him "the 10,000, you know, green."

"Just don't put it in my name. And then we'll do it twice more," Dwek said.

"OK. Very good," Elwell replied.

Dwek then went to the trunk of his car, removed an envelope stuffed with $10,000 and gave it to Manzo, saying it was the cash for Elwell. Manzo took the envelope and rejoined Elwell.

Back at the Hoboken diner a week later, Manzo confirmed to Dwek that Elwell had received the cash and was happy with it. In the parking lot, Dwek gave Manzo $5,000 for his help in setting up the corrupt arrangement with Elwell.

Elwell also confirmed his receipt of the $10,000 during a July 17 meeting in the mayor's office with Manzo, Cheatam and Dwek.

A week later, Elwell, Manzo and Cheatam were arrested.

Cheatam, 61, a former Jersey City housing commissioner and school board vice president, pleaded guilty in September to accepting $70,000 in bribes from Dwek to facilitate introductions and corrupt payments and illicit campaign contributions to other public officials. Among those he implicated in his plea were state Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano and Elwell, all of whom where arrested in July.

Elwell and Manzo were charged with conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, and accepting corrupt payments in connection with a business transaction with a municipality that received federal funds. The charges carry maximum prison terms of 20 years.
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http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/70347202.html
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