Hoboken's ex-mayor pleads guilty in corruption case

Tuesday, April 20, 2010  The Record
 
NEWARK —    Former Hoboken Mayor Peter J. Cammarano III, an attorney and one-time
rising political star, pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting $25,000 in illicit campaign contributions in the state’s largest corruption sting.

Dressed in a black suit, Cammarano pleaded guilty to one count of extortion conspiracy, admitting he accepted bribes from an informant posing as a real estate developer seeking favors.

By his plea, Cammarano became the highest-ranking official of the 17 who have pleaded guilty or been convicted since federal authorities rounded up more than 40 people last July in an investigation into money laundering and political influence peddling.

“By virture of his guilty plea, Peter Cammarano has accepted responsibility for his misconduct involving the receipt of illegal campaign contributions in return for promises of future assistance,” said his attorney, Joseph Hayden.

“He is 32 years old and after he finishes the criminal process,  I expect he will rebuild his life and once again become a positive member of society,” Hayden told reporters on the steps of the court house.in Newark.

Cammarano, a former councilman, became the youngest mayor in Hoboken's history when he took office July 1 after narrowly defeating his opponent in a runoff.

He held the office for barely three weeks before the July 23 sweep netted him along with the mayors of Ridgefield and Secaucus, two state assemblymen, and a host of other officials, candidates and rabbis.

U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares continued Cammarano’s release on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 3.

Under a plea agreement, Cammarano could face a potential sentence of  between 24 and 30 months in prison.