It's similar here: Guy Catrillo, a member of the Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy's Action Bureau, and Maher Khalil of the city's Health and Human Services Department have signed agreements that most likely promise their cooperation in the case against higher-ranking officials in exchange for lighter sentences than they would have gotten if they were convicted at a trial.
The feds say Catrillo took $10,000 in campaign cash, while Khalil pocketed $30,000 to make key referrals between the bestowers and the alleged recipients.
This clearly makes Khalil one of the government's key witnesses, one who can point them in the right direction, dispel certain theories or testify against his onetime bosses.
The government clearly intends to try many of the medium-sized fish caught in its net:
There's former Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, who is accused of pocketing $25,000 in bribes; ex-Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith (D-Hudson), $15,000; former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, $10,000; ex-Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez, $10,000; former Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt (R-Ocean), $10,000; and now-resigned Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, $20,000.
Expect indictments soon.
Meantime, here are some the key stories originally produced from the FBI roundup:
Meet the cooperator behind N.J.'s biggest corruption bust ever
For upstart mayor, it all began at the Malibu Diner
Roster of community leaders becomes a perp walk
Think about it: Would Christie be in Union City if Stack's dirty?
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