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US corruption probe nets dozens | US corruption probe nets dozens |
(40 minutes later) | |
The mayors of three towns 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' | '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." | 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." | 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. | 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. | "It has become ingrained in New Jersey's political culture," he said. |
'Kidneys' | '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 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. | 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. | 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. |