A federal grand jury returned an Indictment today charging the mayor of Hamilton
Township, New Jersey in connection with $12,400 in bribes he allegedly solicited
and accepted in exchange for his official influence to assist a cooperating
witness in maintaining the position of health insurance broker with the
township’s school district, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
John Bencivengo, 58, of Hamilton, was originally charged by complaint in April 2012 with one count of
attempted obstruction of commerce by
extortion under the color of official right related to the alleged bribes. The
indictment adds a count of obstruction of commerce by extortion under the color of
official right; two counts of violating the federal Travel Act, for allegedly
causing the interstate travel of a cooperating witness (the “CW”) and using a
facility in interstate commerce in aid
of the bribery scheme; and one count of money laundering.
According to the indictment and other documents filed in this case:
While serving as mayor between May 2011 and July 2011, Bencivengo accepted
payments totaling $12,400 from the CW. In exchange, Bencivengo agreed to use his
official assistance, action, and influence to assist the CW and the CW’s
employer—identified in the indictment as the “Insurance Broker”—to retain the
position as health insurance broker for the Hamilton Township School District.
Bencivengo agreed to speak to a member of the School District’s Board of
Education—identified in the indictment as “School Board Member No. 1”—about
retaining the CW as the school district’s health insurance broker instead of
putting that position out for public bid; and agreed to let the CW choose the
individual to replace another member of the school board—identified in the
indictment as “School Board Member No. 2”—if that member left the board to run
for the New Jersey Assembly.
Bencivengo received the $12,400 in multiple payments. The CW passed a $5,000
check to an intermediary who accepted it on Bencivengo’s behalf. Bencivengo, the
intermediary, and the CW later agreed to make the check payable to the
intermediary’s spouse to further conceal the payment. In addition, Bencivengo,
the intermediary, and the CW agreed to put the notation “cherry bedroom set” on
the check, agreeing that if anyone asked about the payment, they would say that
the CW bought a bedroom set from the intermediary’s spouse. After receiving the
check, the intermediary deposited the check and distributed the proceeds to
Bencivengo in cash increments over several weeks.
In one of the meetings recorded during the course of the investigation,
Bencivengo told the CW that he needed $7,400 to pay his outstanding taxes. The
CW responded, “7,400 is definitely doable, as long as you got my back with
[School Board Member No. 1].” To which Bencivengo responded, “When have I ever
not had your back?” When the CW said, “Come January, [School Board Member No. 1 is]
gonna want to go out to bid. You got to definitely get to [School Board Member
No. 1],” Bencivengo responded, “I’m gonna.” The CW also reminded Bencivengo that
if School Board Member No. 2 was elected to the Assembly, the CW needed to pick
the person to replace School Board Member No. 2 on the board.
Bencivengo subsequently received $7,400 in cash from the CW in July 2011,
broken into two payments.
The extortion and attempted extortion counts charged in counts one and two
each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of
$250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The violations of
the Travel Act contained in counts three and four each carry a maximum potential
penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain
or loss from the offense. Count five, which charges money laundering, carries a
maximum potential penalty of 20 years and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value
of the property involved in the transaction. The indictment also seeks
forfeiture of the $12,400 in alleged bribe payments.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Trenton Resident Agency, Newark Field
Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, for the
investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey Bartle of the
U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations made in the indictment are merely accusations,
and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
As an American, I have witnessed many events in our nation's history. Some of them great like placing a man on the moon. Some of them were dark and shameful events. No matter what happened, it is the people that make this nation great. Each looking to the future with optimism and looking to improve this nation for all. The United States is a great and wonderful nation and her people are her best asset. As Americans, we need to stand together and let our voices be heard.
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