Bergen County Man Admits Giving Corrupt Payments to Dismiss Pending State Criminal Charges

NEWARK, NJ—A Bergen County, New Jersey man admitted today that he agreed to give a $10,000 corrupt payment to personnel at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office to dismiss criminal charges that were pending against him, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Mahmud Hammad, 36, of Rutherford, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh to an information charging him with knowingly and corruptly offering, giving and agreeing to give a corrupt payment to influence and reward Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office personnel.

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

From May 2012 to August 2012, Hammad was a defendant in a criminal case that was pending before the Passaic County Superior Court and was being prosecuted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. On July 27, 2012 and August 8, 2012, Hammad met with an FBI undercover agent who purported to have access to authorities at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. During these meetings, which were recorded by the undercover agent, Hammad agreed to pay $10,000 to personnel at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office to have his pending criminal case dismissed. No one at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office was involved in the corrupt activity discussed during these meetings. During the meetings, Hammad also gave the undercover agent $1,500 cash as a “good faith” payment.

The count to which Hammad pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for October 7, 2013.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, Newark, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Llanes of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.