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: Developer admits bribing Hudson County politician

: By JEFFREY GOLD The Associated Press 

: NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A developer pleaded guilty Tuesday to making nearly $115,000 in bribes to the ranking Hudson County politician as rewards for help in obtaining federal and state grants.

: As part of his plea agreement, Joseph Barry is to repay $1 million to the funding agencies. He faces two to two-and-a-half years in prison when sentenced Oct. 6, said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie.

: The case is among several developed with the assistance of the county's former political boss, Robert C. Janiszewski, who wore a wire and secretly recorded meetings with other politicians as well as with Barry.

: The plea by Barry, former president of Hoboken-based Applied Development Co., came eight months after he and Janiszewski's operative were indicted.

: Barry pleaded guilty to four bribery counts in the indictment. The remaining six counts are to be dismissed at sentencing.

: The bribery scheme provided $8.8 million in loans and grants for Barry and his company, according to the federal indictment.

: The restitution is less because the grants were used for the intended purpose, Christie said.

: Barry's guilty plea is the latest milestone in the continuing federal investigation into corruption in Hudson County, which has resulted in several other pleas and convictions.

: Most notable among them was the October 2002 guilty plea by Janiszewski, the former top elected official in Hudson County, who admitted taking more than $100,000 in bribes.

: The charges against Barry and Janiszewski aide Paul J. Byrne stemmed from video and audio recordings that Janiszewski made with Barry, Byrne and others as he assisted federal agents, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

: Some of the schemes were outlined during testimony that Janiszewski gave in spring 2003 at the corruption trial of six-term Hudson County Freeholder Nidia Davila Colon. Janiszewski said that he and Byrne agreed to accept kickbacks from Barry, whose firm built and operates thousands of apartments in Hoboken and Jersey City.

: In return, they helped Barry win federal subsidies and county approval for his developments, Janiszewski testified.

: Barry, 64, of Peapack-Gladstone, and Byrne, of Jersey City, remain free on bond. Byrne still faces trial.

: The indictment charged Barry with bribery, conspiracy and fraud, which each carry up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Byrne faces fraud and conspiracy charges, as well attempted extortion for an official, which carries up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 


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