Posted by Good Bye HCIA on July 19, 2004 at 16:49:41:

07-19-04 -- Byrne, Paul -- Guilty Plea -- News Release

Janiszewski Associate Paul Byrne Admits Being Intermediary in Hudson County Bribe Scheme

NEWARK - Paul Byrne, once a close associate of former Hudson County Executive Robert Janiszewski, pleaded guilty today, admitting that he acted as an intermediary in passing cash payments to Janiszewski in return for government action on renewal of county contracts with the Lisa & Associates accounting firm, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Byrne, 58, of Jersey City, admitted before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano that he solicited and passed along $6,150 in cash payments from Gerard Lisa to Janiszewski at the end of 2000 and early months of 2001. Byrne admitted that he received more than that amount from Lisa and kept the difference for himself and that Lisa paid certain of his personal expenses.

Byrne pleaded guilty to one count of extortion, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of tax evasion, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Judge Pisano scheduled sentencing for Oct. 25.

On June 22, Hudson County waterfront developer Joseph Barry pleaded guilty to making cash payments totaling $114,900 for Janiszewski's help in getting federal and state grants and loans for the Barry company's Shipyard project in Hoboken. Barry and Byrne were both charged in the same Indictment on Oct. 15, 2003.

Lisa, the owner and operator of his Hoboken-based accounting firm, pleaded guilty July 25, 2003. Lisa admitted that each year from 1997 through 2001, he made corrupt payments in order to secure the renewal of his firm's auditing contract with Hudson County. Lisa admitted that he made the payments to then-Hudson County Executive Janiszewski through an intermediary. The intermediary was not named at the time but is now known to have been Byrne.

Byrne also admitted today that he did not file federal income tax returns for 1999, 2000 and 2001. For those years, he admitted that he owes more than $200,000 in unpaid federal taxes on income that included the bribe money he received and kept from Lisa.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Joseph Billy Jr.; and Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation section in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia J. Haynes; and Special Agents with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ruth Ritzema, in Newark, with developing the case against Barry.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Jeffrey Clark, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Goldklang, of the U.S. Attorney's Office Special Prosecutions Division.

-end-

Byrne - John T. Coyle, Esq. and Elise DiNardo, Esq.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Paul Byrne Pleads Guilty - 2 Counts Jay Edgar 01:01:35 07/20/04 (0)
• The Profligate Dorian Grey 21:57:31 07/19/04 (0)
• Re: Paul Byrne Pleads Guilty - 2 Counts What about the other bribes he took??? 17:33:10 07/19/04 (0)
• Faces Up To 25 Years in Prison And He IS NOT COOPERATING ??? LOL 16:58:26 07/19/04 (0)

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: 07-19-04 -- Byrne, Paul -- Guilty Plea -- News Release

: Janiszewski Associate Paul Byrne Admits Being Intermediary in Hudson County Bribe Scheme

: NEWARK - Paul Byrne, once a close associate of former Hudson County Executive Robert Janiszewski, pleaded guilty today, admitting that he acted as an intermediary in passing cash payments to Janiszewski in return for government action on renewal of county contracts with the Lisa & Associates accounting firm, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

: Byrne, 58, of Jersey City, admitted before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano that he solicited and passed along $6,150 in cash payments from Gerard Lisa to Janiszewski at the end of 2000 and early months of 2001. Byrne admitted that he received more than that amount from Lisa and kept the difference for himself and that Lisa paid certain of his personal expenses.

: Byrne pleaded guilty to one count of extortion, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of tax evasion, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Judge Pisano scheduled sentencing for Oct. 25.

: On June 22, Hudson County waterfront developer Joseph Barry pleaded guilty to making cash payments totaling $114,900 for Janiszewski's help in getting federal and state grants and loans for the Barry company's Shipyard project in Hoboken. Barry and Byrne were both charged in the same Indictment on Oct. 15, 2003.

: Lisa, the owner and operator of his Hoboken-based accounting firm, pleaded guilty July 25, 2003. Lisa admitted that each year from 1997 through 2001, he made corrupt payments in order to secure the renewal of his firm's auditing contract with Hudson County. Lisa admitted that he made the payments to then-Hudson County Executive Janiszewski through an intermediary. The intermediary was not named at the time but is now known to have been Byrne.

: Byrne also admitted today that he did not file federal income tax returns for 1999, 2000 and 2001. For those years, he admitted that he owes more than $200,000 in unpaid federal taxes on income that included the bribe money he received and kept from Lisa.

: Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Joseph Billy Jr.; and Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation section in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia J. Haynes; and Special Agents with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ruth Ritzema, in Newark, with developing the case against Barry.

: The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Jeffrey Clark, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Goldklang, of the U.S. Attorney's Office Special Prosecutions Division.

: -end-

: Byrne - John T. Coyle, Esq. and Elise DiNardo, Esq.


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