In one of the highly publicized public corruption cases in New Jersey and New York City, federal jurors in Newark have acquitted Beldini of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of attempted extortion under color of official right and one additional bribery count, yet convicted her of two counts of bribery.
Leona Beldini, a 74 year-old Democrat was accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions in the May 2009 Jersey City mayoral race. She was set up by a government informant, Solomon Dwek who posed as a real estate developer offering bribes in exchange for zoning changes. Dwek used a spy camera to tape Beldini accepting the $20,000 bribes. Dwek’s cooperation with the FBI has brought charges against 46 other defendants.