J. Sharpe James, J.D.
09-29-2007, 03:17 PM
Federal indictment claims Guttenberg mayor, wife were the
KICKBACK COUPLE
Saturday, September 29, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
NEWARK - Guttenberg Mayor David Delle Donna and his wife Anna were shackled hand and foot yesterday when they were led into federal court to face fraud and extortion conspiracy charges related to their officials positions.
David Delle Donna, 49, and Anna Delle Donna, 58, who is on the town Planning Board, are accused of diverting campaign contributions from both his campaign committee and those of others who ran for Town Council and were affiliated with him, according to the indictment, unsealed yesterday.
Each was charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and extortion. Each count carries up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
The mayor's lawyer, Ralph Lamparello, and Anna Delle Donna's lawyer, Brian Neary, entered not guilty pleas for both.
The charges allege that they took "cash campaign contributions from a local bar operator, a real estate developer and a Guttenberg fire official," none of whom are named in the indictment.
The indictment alleges because of the diverted campaign cash, the couple filed fraudulent campaign contribution reports and financial disclosure forms.
It also says they used their official positions to benefit the local bar owner in return for cash payments, which were used for personal expenses, including cosmetic surgery for Anna Delle Donna and gambling in Atlantic City.
The two-count indictment says the bar owner gave the couple cash in exchange for help with problems with police, the Town Council, numerous citations for improperly disposing of garbage and help getting a variance for a residential property.
David Delle Donna, who works as a supervisor at a heating, ventilation and air conditioning firm, has been mayor since 2002 and was a Town Council member before that. Anna Delle Donna has been on the Planning Board since 2002.
In addition to cash contributions, the Delle Donnas allegedly solicited and accepted various additional payments of goods and services from the bar operator.
The couple surrendered yesterday morning and in court yesterday, after U.S. Magistrate Judge Claire C. Cecchi read them their rights, they were released on $100,000 bond each. They must also surrender their passports and firearms.
In December and January, federal agents raided the Delle Donnas' home and Town Hall, and sources at the time said the raids were related to a case from two years ago, in which 10 people were arrested in connection with a human trafficking ring that allegedly smuggled in illegal Honduran women and forced them to work in bars to pay off their smuggling debts.
The alleged ringleader, Luisa Medrano, was a bar owner and campaign contributor to the mayor.
While others in the case face up to eight years behind bars, Medrano pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of harboring illegal aliens and faces up to 30 months behind bars.
At the time of her plea last year, Medrano's attorney, Gerald Shargel, said she was not cooperating with investigators. He declined to repeat that denial or comment yesterday.
Lamparello and Neary declined to comment after the hearing.
Newhouse News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report
KICKBACK COUPLE
Saturday, September 29, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
NEWARK - Guttenberg Mayor David Delle Donna and his wife Anna were shackled hand and foot yesterday when they were led into federal court to face fraud and extortion conspiracy charges related to their officials positions.
David Delle Donna, 49, and Anna Delle Donna, 58, who is on the town Planning Board, are accused of diverting campaign contributions from both his campaign committee and those of others who ran for Town Council and were affiliated with him, according to the indictment, unsealed yesterday.
Each was charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and extortion. Each count carries up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
The mayor's lawyer, Ralph Lamparello, and Anna Delle Donna's lawyer, Brian Neary, entered not guilty pleas for both.
The charges allege that they took "cash campaign contributions from a local bar operator, a real estate developer and a Guttenberg fire official," none of whom are named in the indictment.
The indictment alleges because of the diverted campaign cash, the couple filed fraudulent campaign contribution reports and financial disclosure forms.
It also says they used their official positions to benefit the local bar owner in return for cash payments, which were used for personal expenses, including cosmetic surgery for Anna Delle Donna and gambling in Atlantic City.
The two-count indictment says the bar owner gave the couple cash in exchange for help with problems with police, the Town Council, numerous citations for improperly disposing of garbage and help getting a variance for a residential property.
David Delle Donna, who works as a supervisor at a heating, ventilation and air conditioning firm, has been mayor since 2002 and was a Town Council member before that. Anna Delle Donna has been on the Planning Board since 2002.
In addition to cash contributions, the Delle Donnas allegedly solicited and accepted various additional payments of goods and services from the bar operator.
The couple surrendered yesterday morning and in court yesterday, after U.S. Magistrate Judge Claire C. Cecchi read them their rights, they were released on $100,000 bond each. They must also surrender their passports and firearms.
In December and January, federal agents raided the Delle Donnas' home and Town Hall, and sources at the time said the raids were related to a case from two years ago, in which 10 people were arrested in connection with a human trafficking ring that allegedly smuggled in illegal Honduran women and forced them to work in bars to pay off their smuggling debts.
The alleged ringleader, Luisa Medrano, was a bar owner and campaign contributor to the mayor.
While others in the case face up to eight years behind bars, Medrano pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of harboring illegal aliens and faces up to 30 months behind bars.
At the time of her plea last year, Medrano's attorney, Gerald Shargel, said she was not cooperating with investigators. He declined to repeat that denial or comment yesterday.
Lamparello and Neary declined to comment after the hearing.
Newhouse News Service and the Associated Press contributed to this report