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US corruption probe nets dozens Rabbis held over 'kidney trade'
(about 2 hours 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. Dozens of politicians, officials and five rabbis have been arrested in the US over alleged corruption, money laundering and human organ trafficking.
Two members of the New Jersey state legislature were also among more than 40 people detained. Three mayors from the state of New Jersey and two members of the state legislature were 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 carrying suspects were parked four deep outside FBI offices in Newark.
'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 legislators 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. Law enforcement officials say the investigation originally focused on a network they allege laundered tens of millions of dollars through charities controlled by rabbis in New Jersey and neighbouring New York.
Acting US Attorney, Ralph Marra, said: "It seemed that everyone wanted a piece of the action. The corruption was widespread and pervasive." It widened to include alleged official corruption said to be linked to a New Jersey construction boom.
Newark Mayor Cory Booker, an anti-corruption campaigner in the city, said it had been "an unbelievable morning". Acting US Attorney, Ralph Marra, said: "It seemed that everyone wanted a piece of the action. The corruption was widespread and pervasive. Corruption was a way of life for the accused."
He said politicians had "willingly put themselves up for sale".
"These rings, led by clergymen, cloaked their extensive criminal activity behind a facade of rectitude," he added.
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' The BBC's Jane O'Brien says the money laundering ring reportedly 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. Prosecutors accuse one rabbi of dealing in human kidneys for transplant for a decade.
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. It's alleged that "vulnerable people" would give up a kidney for $10,000 (£6,000) and these would then be sold on for $160,000 (£97,000).
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.
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.