Home Newark Press Releases 2010 Former City of Newark Employee Pleads Guilty to Attempted Extortion
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Former City of Newark Employee Pleads Guilty to Attempted Extortion

U.S. Attorney’s Office December 09, 2010
  • District of New Jersey (973) 645-2888

TRENTON, NJ—A former City of Newark, New Jersey official pled guilty today to attempted extortion, admitting that he accepted a $10,000 corrupt payment in order to assist a contractor in obtaining demolition contracts with the city, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Anthony Clark, 45, of Newark—a former manager of property clearance for the City of Newark Department of Neighborhood Services and former program manager for the City of Newark Library—pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Freda L. Wolfson to an information charging him with attempted extortion under the color of official right.

At today’s hearing, Clark admitted that in October 2006, he agreed to use his official authority and influence to obtain demolition contracts from the City of Newark for a contractor, actually a government cooperating witness (CW), in exchange for corrupt payments. Specifically, Clark admitted accepting a $10,000 cash bribe from the CW on October 31, 2006.

The charge to which Anthony Clark pleaded guilty carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2011.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward, for the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey Bartle of the United States Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.

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