John Bencivengo, Extortion, Bribery, Money Laundering, New Jersey 2011

State: New Jersey
Category: Public Corruption
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/former-hamilton-township-nj-mayor-sentenced-38-months-prison-extortion-bribery-money" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Hamilton Township, New Jersey – Former Mayor John Bencivengo was sentenced to 38 months in prison for his role in a bribery scheme that netted him $12,400 in exchange for his official influence in helping a health insurance broker maintain her contract with the township’s school district.

Bencivengo, 58, was convicted of obstruction of commerce by extortion under color of official right, attempted obstruction of commerce by extortion under color of official right, two counts of violating the federal Travel Act, and one count of money laundering after a five-day trial in U.S. District Court in Trenton.

The scheme involved Bencivengo accepting payments from health insurance broker Marliese Ljuba in exchange for using his official assistance to help her retain her contract with the school district. The payments totaled $12,400 and were made in multiple installments between May and July 2011.

According to court documents, Ljuba made the first payment of $5,000 to Bencivengo through an intermediary, and the remainder of the money was paid in cash over several weeks. Bencivengo was arrested and charged in connection with the scheme in July 2011.

Bencivengo’s sentencing comes after a lengthy investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark. ‘Mayor Bencivengo betrayed the people of Hamilton Township and all of the honest public servants in New Jersey who take their oaths and their responsibilities seriously,’ U.S. Attorney Fishman said. ‘His conviction, and today’s sentence, serve as reminders that the public trust is not for sale.’

Bencivengo was also sentenced to three years of supervised release in addition to his prison term. He was ordered to report to prison on a date to be determined. The investigation into Bencivengo’s corruption scheme is ongoing.

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