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U.S. Federal Corruption Arrests Include Religious Leaders

August 07, 2009

A 10-year federal probe, launched by the FBI, IRS and the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, led to charging 44 suspects for public corruption and international money laundering.

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Edward Kahrer, Assistant FBI Special Agent in Charge of Newark, speaks at a news conference to announce the arrests (July 23).

Source: Jeff Zelevansky/AFP/Getty Images

The arrests of New Jersey politicians included two state legislators, three mayors, a deputy mayor and a city council president. Federal officials also charged five orthodox rabbis with money laundering.

The commissioner of the state’s Department of Community Affairs resigned after officials raided both his home and office.

Ralph J. Marra Jr., the acting United States attorney in New Jersey, said at a news conference, “For these defendants, corruption was a way of life. They existed in an ethics-free zone” (The New York Times).

Federal law enforcement authorities arrested one suspect for trafficking human organs: allegedly buying kidneys on the black market from Israel for $10,000 each, and selling them to U.S. patients for up to $160,000.