Closing arguments continue in the corruption trial of former Newark Deputy Mayor Ronald Salahuddin
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Former Newark Deputy Mayor Ronald Salahuddin. TRENTON — After a month of testimony and dozens of hours of FBI surveillance tapes, the jury in Ronald Salahuddin’s federal corruption trial is faced with two disparate portraits of the former Newark deputy mayor.
In closing arguments this week in U.S. District Court in Trenton, the government painted Salahuddin, 61, as a glib deal-maker who used his position to enrich himself and his alleged partner, Sonnie Cooper. Salahuddin’s lawyer, Thomas Ashley, said the government and its cooperating witness, Nicholas Mazzocchi, manipulated the two men and twisted their statements to make a conspiracy appear where none existed.
In 2006 and 2007, Salahuddin and Cooper met numerous times with Mazzocchi, a prominent demolition contractor, to discuss city contracts. Salahuddin said that by subcontracting to Cooper, Mazzocchi could satisfy Mayor Cory Booker’s mandate to hire local, minority-owned businesses.
Mazzocchi, on the hook with the FBI for bribing numerous public officials in his career, was wearing a wire during every conversation he had with the two men. Despite potentially damning statements by Salahuddin, the only monies he is seen accepting are political contributions to Booker. He testified the only reason he was helping Cooper was to ensure a minority was getting contracts.
"There is no crime unless there is something (Salahuddin) is getting in return," defense attorney Thomas Ashley told jurors Friday. "To this day, he has not gotten a dime."
But the U.S. Attorney’s office said Salahuddin did receive money from Cooper, 68, and had much to lose if Cooper’s business failed.
In 2004, Salahuddin mortgaged his home and a rental property so Cooper could secure a bond for a multi-year garbage contract in Irvington. Under the agreement, signed by Salahuddin, the bond company could seize Salahuddin’s property if Cooper failed to pay his employees or expenses.
"Mr. Salahuddin didn’t help Mr. Cooper out of friendship," Assistant U.S. Attorney Harvey Bartle told jurors. "He helped him because he had the financial interest to do so."
Much of the government’s case rests on the tapes. Salahuddin makes statements such as "(Cooper) and I are in the garbage business together," and "You have to be careful what you say. You never know who’s listening."
Government lawyers say those and similar statements are a clear indication of Salahuddin’s guilt.
"If this was about helping local minorities, why would Ron Salahuddin be afraid of who was listening? Why wouldn’t he shout it from the rooftops?" Bartle said. "Because it wasn’t, ladies and gentlemen."
Ashley argued that Mazzocchi was a "puppet" of the FBI, that he tried to lead Salahuddin into a corrupt scheme, and that he was not credible.
"What he says is not evidence. What he says is a government-inspired plot," Ashley said. "He is a puppet on a string."
Ashley and Cooper’s lawyer, Alan Zegas will continue summations on Tuesday. The jury is expected to deliberate shortly thereafter.
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