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US corruption probe nets dozens US corruption probe nets dozens
(20 minutes later)
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 44 people, including rabbis and city mayors, alleged to be involved in a massive corruption case. More than 40 people, including politicians, officials and several rabbis have been arrested in a major FBI operation the US.
Three mayors from the state of New Jersey and two members of the state legislature were among those held.Three mayors from the state of New Jersey and two members of the state legislature were among those held.
Three hundred FBI agents raided dozens of locations across New Jersey and New York as part of a 10-year probe into corruption and money laundering. One man is accused of alleged kidney trafficking involving Israeli donors.
Cars carrying suspects were parked four deep outside FBI offices in Newark. Three hundred FBI agents raided dozens of locations in New Jersey and New York as part of a 10-year probe into corruption and money laundering.
'Piece of the action' Prosecutors say the arrests were part of a "dual-tracked" investigation.
Acting US Attorney Ralph Marra told reporters there were 29 suspects on what he termed the "public corruption" side of the investigation, including the politicians.
On the other side, he said, there were 15 suspects in connection with alleged international money-laundering, including five rabbis and their "associates".
'Vulnerable people'
Prosecutors accuse one man of dealing in human kidneys from Israeli donors for transplant for a decade.
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).
Law enforcement officials say investigations 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.
It widened to include alleged official corruption with links to a New Jersey construction boom.
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 legislators Harvey Smith and Daniel Van Pelt were also arrested.State legislators Harvey Smith and Daniel Van Pelt were also arrested.
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. Mr 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."
It widened to include alleged official corruption said to be linked to a New Jersey construction boom. He said politicians had "willingly put themselves up for sale" and clergymen had "cloaked their extensive criminal activity behind a facade of rectitude".
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." The BBC's Jane O'Brien says the money laundering ring reportedly spanned the US, Israel and Switzerland.
He said politicians had "willingly put themselves up for sale". ARRESTED Hoboken Mayor Peter CammaranoSecaucus Mayor Dennis ElwellRidgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez
"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.
The BBC's Jane O'Brien says the money laundering ring reportedly spanned the US, Israel and Switzerland. Another FBI agent said: "The list of people we arrested sounds like it should be the roster for a meeting of community leaders, but sadly they weren't meeting in a boardroom this morning, they were in the FBI booking room."
Prosecutors accuse one man of dealing in human kidneys for transplant for a decade. Correspondents say the number of people arrested is large even by New Jersey standards, where more than 130 public officials have either admitted to corruption or been found guilty of it since 2001.
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).