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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US corruption probe nets dozens | US corruption probe nets dozens |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The mayors of three cities in the US state of New Jersey, along with several rabbis, have been arrested over alleged corruption and money laundering. | The mayors of three cities in the US state of New Jersey, along with several rabbis, have been arrested over alleged corruption and money laundering. |
| Two members of the New Jersey state legislature were also among more than 40 people detained. | Two members of the New Jersey state legislature were also among more than 40 people detained. |
| Three hundred FBI agents raided dozens of locations across New Jersey and New York as part of a 10-year probe. | Three hundred FBI agents raided dozens of locations across New Jersey and New York as part of a 10-year probe. |
| Cars were backed up four deep with suspects outside the FBI's office in Newark, New Jersey's largest city. | Cars were backed up four deep with suspects outside the FBI's office in Newark, New Jersey's largest city. |
| 'Piece of the action' | |
| Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini and Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez were among those arrested. | Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini and Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez were among those arrested. |
| State assemblymen Harvey Smith and Daniel Van Pelt were also arrested. | State assemblymen Harvey Smith and Daniel Van Pelt were also arrested. |
| Federal prosecutors said several rabbis were detained in the states of New York and New Jersey. | Federal prosecutors said several rabbis were detained in the states of New York and New Jersey. |
| Acting US Attorney, Ralph Marra, said: "It seemed that everyone wanted a piece of the action. The corruption was widespread and pervasive." | |
| Newark Mayor Cory Booker, an anti-corruption campaigner in the city, said it had been "an unbelievable morning". | Newark Mayor Cory Booker, an anti-corruption campaigner in the city, said it had been "an unbelievable morning". |
| Jon Corzine, the Governor of New Jersey, said: "The scale of corruption we're seeing as this unfolds is simply outrageous and cannot be tolerated." | |
| Ed Kahrer, an FBI agent who has worked on the investigation from the start, said: "New Jersey's corruption problem is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the nation. | |
| "It has become ingrained in New Jersey's political culture," he said. | |
| 'Kidneys' | |
| The BBC's Jane O'Brien says the money-laundering ring, which is said to have involved at least $3m (£1.8m), spanned the US, Israel and Switzerland. | |
| The news agency, Associated Press, reported that several rabbis from New York City and New Jersey were charged with a number of offences ranging from the trafficking of kidneys from Israeli donors to the laundering of proceeds from selling fake designer bags. | |
| AP spoke to a congregation member of a synagogue in Deal, New Jersey, which was reportedly raided by agents from the FBI, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and local prosecutors' office. | |
| "Everyone was looking at each other, like, 'What's going on here?'" Mike Winnick said. | "Everyone was looking at each other, like, 'What's going on here?'" Mike Winnick said. |
| Mr Winnick said four FBI agents escorted a rabbi from the synagogue into his office and blocked the doorway. | Mr Winnick said four FBI agents escorted a rabbi from the synagogue into his office and blocked the doorway. |
| Agents also removed several boxes from the nearby yeshiva, a school that educates the children of Sephardic Jews, AP reported. | Agents also removed several boxes from the nearby yeshiva, a school that educates the children of Sephardic Jews, AP reported. |