**BREAKING: Ferriero Guilty!**
In what could be a real blow to Corzine in this very close election, former Bergen County Democrat Organization head, “Goomba” Joe Ferriero, has been found guilty on fraud charges:
BERGENFIELD — The former northern New Jersey political boss Joseph Ferriero was found guilty by a federal jury this afternoon, according to a report in The Record.
During the third day of deliberations, Ferriero was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud and two counts of mail fraud, according to the report, but was acquitted on five other mail fraud counts.
Prosecutors had argued that Ferriero and Dennis Oury, who was borough attorney for Bergenfield, had conspired to defraud the town by hiding their co-ownership of a consulting business. The consulting firm had sought contracts from towns in the county.
Ferriero was head of the county’s Democratic organization from 1998 to 2008; Oury was borough attorney for Bergenfield.
Oury had pleaded guilty and testified against Ferriero.
And here is a statement on the verdict released by Assemblyman DeCroce:
The guilty verdict of the former Bergen County Democratic chairman is another example of how Governor Corzine and his party have allowed corruption, which robs money from honest residents, to fester throughout the state, Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce said today.
A jury found former Joseph Ferriero, once one of the most powerful figures in New Jersey Democratic politics, guilty of defrauding the residents of Bergenfield . He was found guilty of conspiracy and two counts of mail fraud.
“The jury’s verdict of Ferriero is also an indictment of Governor Corzine who turns his back on ethical behavior and reform in order to further his own political goals,” DeCroce said. “The governor has refused several calls for a special legislative session to enact tough anti-corruption measures. Even worse, he has funneled millions into the campaign accounts of power brokers such as Ferriero, while portraying himself as a champion of campaign finance reform. The governor’s intent is reflected by his actions, not his talk.”
Corzine, and his family, have contributed more than $440,000 to the political accounts of Ferriero and former State Sen. Joseph Coniglio, D-Bergen, who has also been convicted of corruption.
DeCroce said Assembly Republicans stand ready to vote on a comprehensive package of legislation that would suspend indicted officials, take away pensions from those convicted and eliminate the corrupting influence of campaign contributions from government contracts.
“We are prepared to implement real ethics reform before another one of the governor’s cronies is sent to prison,” DeCroce said. “Although Governor Corzine is satisfied with our current system that since 2002 has seen more than 100 public officials convicted, the public demands more from those who influence how public dollars are spent.
Cross-posted at Red County and Conservatives with Attitude!
