Name That Party: Former Hoboken Mayor of Unknown Party Gets Two Years in Prison

You would think the local newspaper would at least be able to identify this "youthful ex-mayor" they seem smitten with.

Peter Cammarano III, the youthful ex-mayor of Hoboken who became the face of the biggest political corruption sting in the state's history, was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.

Arrested just three weeks after taking office, he pleaded guilty in April to accepting $25,000 in illegal campaign contributions in exchange for his support of high-rise building projects being proposed by an undercover informant who was posing as a crooked developer.

Cammarano was one of the most prominent of the many public officials nabbed in the sting last year, which led to the arrests of more than 40 people, including mayors, state legislators, five rabbis and a man accused of trying to broker the sale of a black market human kidney.

Cammarano had faced up to 2 1/2 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

In case it's not clear what party Cammarano is affiliated with, this should help clear up any confusion.

That's Cammarano on the right. You might recognize the three hacks on the left.

Naturally, the AP refuses to identify Cammarano as a Democrat. Safe to say it'd be in the headline if he were a Republican.

At least this outlet is still practicing actual journalism.

'I Could Be, Uh, Indicted, and I’m Still Gonna Win'

Well, you were, uh, indicted, and uh, now you're going to prison. Happy trails to another rising star in, uh, Democrat circles in New Jersey. And, uh, there are plenty more to follow you to, uh, jail.

Of all those charged in last year’s sprawling FBI sting, perhaps no one was caught uttering more brazen words than Peter J. Cammarano III, the former mayor of Hoboken.

At a meeting last May with an undercover informant, the 32-year-old Democrat was videotaped boasting about grinding political opponents "into powder." During the same conversation, Cammarano predicted not even criminal charges could prevent his election, according to a criminal complaint.

"I could be, uh, indicted, and I’m still gonna win," said Cammarano, who was arrested three weeks after taking office.

That bravado was gone today as Cammarano, the youngest mayor in Hoboken history, pleaded guilty to extortion conspiracy before a federal judge in Newark. With his eyes downcast, he quietly admitted accepting $25,000 in illegal campaign contributions through a deal that could send him to prison for up to two and 1/2 years.

"He was pretty explicit that he was willing to trade his office for campaign contributions," U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

In exchange for the money, Cammarano, an attorney who specialized in election law, promised to support building projects proposed by the informant, who posed as a crooked developer. U.S. District Judge Jose Linares set Cammarano’s sentencing for Aug. 3.

He was charged in July as part of the largest federal sting in state history, ensnaring 46 people including politicians, rabbis and one man accused of trying to sell a human kidney. Cammarano is the most prominent of the 17 defendants who have pleaded guilty in connection to the probe.

"This case serves as an unfortunate example of how pervasive public corruption can be considering the fact that someone so young in his political career can succumb to such enticements," said Michael B. Ward, head of the FBI’s Newark office.

To local Democrats, Cammarano seemed to brim with potential. He was a gifted speaker who married his law school sweetheart, had clean-cut good looks and worked at one of the state’s most prominent firms. During his campaign, Cammarano cast himself as a fiscal watchdog and family man, often appearing with his wife and daughter. But authorities say behind his boyish smile, Cammarano practiced a raw style of politics that long festered on the local waterfront.

Weeks before his run-off election, Cammarano told the informant, Solomon Dwek, that he planned to break the world into three categories after capturing city hall. "There’s the people who were with us, and that’s you guys. There’s the people who climbed on board in the runoff. They can get in line . . . And then there are the people who were against us the whole way . . . They get ground into powder," he said, according to the complaint.

With his wife and daughter beside him, Cammarano was sworn into office July 1. Three weeks later, he was led handcuffed into FBI headquarters.

Here's the former rising young star (on the right) with some of his political mentors. You probably recognize the cadaver on the left, Democrat Senator Frank Lautenberg, flanked by Cammarano's former boss, Democrat Senator Robert Menendez and (thankfully) former Governor, Democrat Jon Corzine. Ah, happier times.

Huge Corruption Sweep in NJ; Hoboken, Secaucus Mayors Arrested

Business as usual here in New Jersey.

Dozens of arrests are taking place across New Jersey this morning and many public officials -- including the mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus, the deputy mayor of Jersey City -- are among those being taken into custody.

FBI and IRS agents are making the roundups all across the state in what is being described as one of the biggest investigations of its kind in Jersey's scandal-plagued history.

It appears to be a corruption related investigation but justice department and FBI spokesmen would not commenting on the details this morning.

Arrests and searches are underway across Jersey City, Secaucus and numerous Hudson and Bergen county locations.

In past years, New jersey has seen more than 100 corruption-related arrests of public officials. No word on the specific charges against those being rounded up today. A press conference is expected later today.

Among those arrested this morning were Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano and Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, authorities said.

The Hudson County Democrat machine has been one of the dirtiest in the nation for probably a century, and produced the esteemed Senator Robert Menendez. With any luck he's also getting swept up with the trash.

Apparently it's a federal money-laundering rap that also involves some rabbis.

Federal authorities arrested dozens of people today in New York and New Jersey as part of a money laundering and corruption sweep. Those arrested included several New Jersey public officials and rabbis.

The suspects are scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Newark later today. Those arrested include Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, Secaucus Mayor Denis Elwell and Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Baldini, and Jersey City Council President Mario Vega.

Here's a photo of Cammarano from earlier this week with some other esteemed Democrats. You may recognize some of them.

Here's a photo of Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano with, from left, Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, along with New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Assemblyman Ruben Ramos last week outside the Hoboken PATH terminal.

Update: Instapundit links. Thanks!

So far 30 have been arrested.

The mayors of Hoboken and Secaucus, a state assemblyman and dozens of others were rounded up early Thursday as the F.B.I. swept across four counties in New Jersey as part of a two-year corruption and money-laundering investigation that ranged from the Jersey Shore to Brooklyn and has even reached into the State House in Trenton.

Agents raided the home of Joseph V. Doria Jr., commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs, who also is the former mayor of Bayonne, an official confirmed Thursday morning.

Among the roughly 30 people arrested by mid-morning were Hoboken Mayor Peter J. Cammarano III and Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, both Democrats, and Assemblyman Daniel M. Van Pelt, a Republican from Forked River, in Ocean County. Mr. Cammarano, who turned 32 on Wednesday, was elected mayor June 9 and sworn in July 1, after serving as councilman-at-large since 2005.

Also brought to the Newark office of the F.B.I. were the president of the city council in Jersey City, Mariano Vega, and that city’s deputy mayor, Leona Beldini.

The Times doesn't note it but Doria is a Democrat.

Curious how the Republican is prominently noted but most reports neglect to mention all the rest are Democrats. Moe Lane is keeping tabs on party affiliation. More details from Lawhawk.