Former Hudson County Official Admits to Agreeing to Pass Cash Bribes to Former Secaucus Mayor

NEWARK—Denis Jaslow, former investigator for the Hudson County Board of Elections, admitted today to agreeing to provide a $10,000 bribe payment to a Secaucus official in order to influence that official regarding real estate development matters in Secaucus, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Denis Jaslow, 48, of North Bergen and Wall, N.J., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares to a superseding Information charging him with aiding and abetting the offer and giving of, and agreeing to give, a bribe to the then-mayor of Secaucus.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Between November 2008 and July 2009, Jaslow participated in several recorded meetings and telephone calls with Solomon Dwek, an FBI cooperating witness posing as a residential real estate developer. At one meeting, Jaslow accepted a $5,000 cash payment from Dwek to introduce Dwek to public officials willing to assist him in obtaining approvals for his purported real estate development projects in exchange for corrupt payments. Pursuant to that arrangement, Jaslow set up several meetings with Dwek and public officials in New Jersey, including the Secaucus mayor, referred to in court documents as the “Secaucus official.”

Before the mayor arrived at an April 23, 2009, meeting, Jaslow told Dwek he had explained to the mayor that Dwek was interested in real estate development in Secaucus, and assured Dwek that the mayor would help him expedite related official matters.

Jaslow admitted that at the same meeting, Dwek asked the mayor how to make the cash payments to him, and they agreed to work through Jaslow. Jaslow then assured the mayor that Dwek was “a very generous guy.”

At the end of the meeting, Jaslow and Dwek discussed specifics regarding the payments, agreeing that Jaslow would tell the mayor a $10,000 payment would be forthcoming from Dwek through Jaslow, with the potential for additional payments after Dwek secured necessary zone changes with the mayor’s assistance.

In light of the Third Circuit’s appellate decision in United States v. Manzo, a previous Information charging Jaslow with extortion conspiracy was dismissed today, and his plea to that charge was withdrawn by the consent of the parties.

The charge to which Jaslow pleaded guilty today carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for October 4, 2011.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, and IRS—Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Victor W. Lessoff, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra L. Moser of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: James Lisa Esq., Jersey City, N.J.