💰 A former Hudson County parks director admitted taking part in a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme.
➡️ Prosecutors said contractors secured more than $5 million in county work through cash and kickbacks.
⚠️ Russell Fallacara is the third and final defendant to plead guilty in the federal investigation.
NEWARK — A second disgraced Hudson County parks director has admitted to his role in a lucrative bribery scheme that involved heavy bags of cash.
Russell Fallacara, 59, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. The federal offense carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.
He was the last holdout to admit to the six-year conspiracy that began in 2019. Thomas DeLeo, who was parks director before Fallacara, and local business owner William Murray both pleaded guilty in March.
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According to federal prosecutors, their scheme involved more than $1.5 million in bribes and kickbacks. Officials said DeLeo and Fallacara received most of the benefits, while unnamed associates got the rest.
Prosecutors say bags of cash helped secure county contracts
Investigators found that Murray wanted his company, Murray Paving and Concrete, LLC, to get big contracts for Hudson County park projects. So, Murray gave bags of cash and free home renovations to Hudson County officials. His company was awarded more than $5 million in parks contracts, including paving, landscaping, and general contracting…