A senior aide to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, admitting to a pay-to-play scheme that exchanged government favors for bribes.
Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for New Jersey announced the plea in a statement on X. “Today a former Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark plead guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud,” she began.
“This is a clear example of a pay-to-play scheme, where public officials exploit their positions of power to obtain bribes in exchange for doing their jobs. This betrays the trust of the very community members they claim to serve,” Habba added.
“I will not stand for public corruption anywhere in New Jersey. These charges have a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This is what accountability looks like — and I will continue to fight for the people of New Jersey,” she wrote.
The plea comes on the heels of Mayor Ras Baraka’s own arrest last month after entering the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in what authorities called a political stunt.
Baraka was charged with criminal trespass, but Habba’s office later dropped the misdemeanor case. He has since filed a lawsuit against Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and Homeland Security Special Agent Ricky Patel, accusing them of false arrest and malicious prosecution.
In the 17-page complaint, his attorneys described Habba as a “political operative.” Habba responded to the lawsuit stating, “My advice to the mayor – feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety. Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey.”
