Mayor Suarez Acquitted

Ridgefield, NJ.

Ridgefield Mayor Anthony R. Suarez was found not guilty today of taking bribes from the informant who anchored last year’s sprawling FBI sting, marking the first time a public official has been acquitted of federal corruption charges in New Jersey in more than a decade.

The 43-year-old Democrat closed his eyes and wept as the jury forewoman in Newark read the verdict clearing him of bribery and extortion charges, rejecting allegations that he took $10,000 from an informant who masqueraded as a developer trying to buy off politicians.

“I always had faith people would see the truth,” said Suarez, standing in the rain during a brief news conference outside the courthouse.

He was charged along with scores of others in last year’s massive bribery and money-laundering sting, including five rabbis and more a dozen public officials. Of all the politicians charged, Suarez is the only one who remains in office.

His codefendant, Vincent Tabbachino, a tax preparer and former Guttenberg police officer, was convicted of bribery and extortion.

Suarez was accused of taking $10,000 in bribes from Solomon Dwek, a one-time rabbinical student who became the most prodigious informant ever to wear a wire in New Jersey.

The informant's work led to charges against 46 people in a money-laundering and bribery probe that ensnared five rabbis, three mayors and two state legislators.

Two politicians have been convicted, and 20 defendants in the case have pleaded guilty.

Dwek began cooperating with the FBI in 2006 after being charged with a $50 million bank fraud. He worked his way across the state, wearing a tiny hidden video camera on his belly as he tried to talk rabbis into laundering money and convince public officials to take bribes.

Suarez's lawyer argued that the mayor never knowingly took an illicit dime.

He turned down $10,000 cash. He never deposited a $10,000 check. And, ultimately, the 43-year-old

Democrat kept just $2,500, which he believed was a legitimate donation to his legal defense fund, his lawyer, John Michael Vazquez, said.

If convicted, Suarez would have faced up to 20 years in prison.