Rude awakening for Monmouth County officials
BY DAN NEWMAN
Staff Writer

NEWARK— Eleven current and former Monmouth County officials were arrested early Tuesday morning and charged with extorting free contracting work and cash bribes in what is to be considered one of the biggest single-day roundups in a single county ever.

Among the arrested were West Long Branch Mayor Paul Zambrano and Councilman Joseph DeLisa, both of whom were charged in the same complaint, with one count of extortion under color of official right, which can carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Of the 11 defendants, only former Marlboro Councilman Thomas Broderick, now an assistant supervisor at the county Division of Highways, was charged differently, with money laundering, which carries the same penalty.

On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald J. Hedges set bail at $50,000, which each of the defendants met, and they were released on their own recognizance. They are also not allowed to leave Monmouth County unless it’s for work-related purposes or pretrial services. In addition, the defendants were made to surrender any and all weapons in their possession, as well as passports or other travel documents by noon yesterday.

U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie said that more arrests could be coming in the near future.

Upon leaving court, many of the defendants, clad in their pajamas thanks to a 4:30 a.m. wakeup call from the FBI, had nothing to say as they were accompanied by their lawyers.

When asked if he was set up by a member of the media, Asbury Park Councilman John J. Hamilton Jr. had no comment, but a relative of his vehemently stated, “Yes, he was.”