Former Bergen County Dem Chair Gets 35 Months in Prison for Racketeering
In a major blow to New Jersey politics, former Bergen County Democratic Organization (BCDO) Chairman Joseph A. Ferriero has been sentenced to 35 months in prison for his role in a racketeering scheme involving bribery and fraud. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld the sentence in a unanimous, precedential opinion written by Judge Anthony J. Scirica.
Ferriero, 60, was convicted at trial for his involvement in a bribery and fraud scheme that involved a software services company soliciting business from various Bergen County towns. As BCDO chairman, Ferriero’s recommendations carried great weight, and he accepted payments from the software developer in exchange for recommending the company to those towns.
The Court of Appeals rejected Ferriero’s arguments that the evidence convicting him of bribery was insufficient. The evidence showed that Ferriero had agreed to accept payments from the software developer in exchange for recommending the company to various Bergen County towns.
The Court also rejected Ferriero’s arguments that the constitution prevented New Jersey’s bribery statute from applying to his conduct. It held that New Jersey’s bribery law does not punish legitimate First Amendment activity, but rather corrupt agreements in which party officials accept payment in exchange for making a particular decision or recommendation.
Ferriero served as the chairman of the BCDO from 1998 until January 2009 and was the sole member of SJC Consulting LLC. The jury found Ferriero accepted bribes in his capacity as BCDO chairman in the course of a scheme involving SJC.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence presented at trial, Ferriero agreed with John Carrino, a Nutley, New Jersey-based attorney and software developer, that Ferriero would recommend and provide a favorable opinion of the software developer and his companies to various public officials in Bergen County with whom Ferriero had influence. The software developer agreed to pay Ferriero one-quarter to one-third of the gross receipts from any contract obtained because of Ferriero’s efforts.
In addition to his prison sentence, Ferriero will also have to pay restitution. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce P. Keller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Appeals Division in Newark. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Llanes, now Chief of the General Crimes Unit, represented the government at Ferriero’s trial.
Ferriero’s prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. The Court’s decision is a major victory for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the people of New Jersey, who demand accountability from public officials.
Ferriero’s crimes are a stark reminder of the corrupting influence of power and the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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