Former Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Taking Bribes and Attempted Cover-Up

NEWARK—Former Asbury Park Deputy Mayor and Councilman John J. Hamilton, Jr. was sentenced today to 41 months in prison in connection with his acceptance of a driveway paving job and a $2,000 cash bribe from a cooperating government witness who Hamilton believed was involved in construction and demolition work, money laundering, and illegal loansharking, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Hamilton, 60, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, then lied to the FBI and tried to tamper with a witness to cover up the bribery scheme. Hamilton was convicted in October 2008 on all counts against him: one count each of conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, bribery, making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and attempted witness tampering.

The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge José L. Linares in Newark federal court.

Hamilton was the last to be convicted of 11 sitting and former public officials from Monmouth County who were charged in February 2005 with taking corrupt cash payments and other corrupt favors from an undercover cooperating witness.

Of the 11 officials and former officials originally charged, eight pleaded guilty, Hamilton and former Middletown Committeeman Raymond O’Grady were convicted at trial, and the complaint charging former Keyport Councilman Robert Hyer was dismissed upon his death. Operations Bid Rig I and II, which encompassed the group of 11, as well as former Ocean Township Mayor Terrence Weldon and others, resulted in the convictions of six mayors and more than 20 public officials in the greater Monmouth County area.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Linares sentenced Hamilton to two years of supervised release. Under the advisory U.S. sentencing guidelines, Judge Linares considered the appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, as well as other factors. Parole has been abolished in the federal system; defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all the time imposed by the court.

Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Red Bank Resident Agency, now under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, for the investigation which led to today’s sentence.

The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joyce Malliet and Mark McCarren.

Defense Counsel: Joshua L. Markowitz, Esq., Lawrenceville, N.J.