Former state Assemblyman Danel Van Pelt was either a consultant following the rules on how to perform his new job or he was a corrupt politician looking to make extra cash when he accepted $10,000 from a crooked developer, attorneys argued to jurors at the conclusion of his trial this morning. Charged with bribery and extortion, Van Pelt has...
Daniel Van Pelt (center) exits U.S. Federal Court last week with his attorney Robert Fuggi Jr. (right). Pelt, a Republican, resigned from the Assembly and the township committee a week after he was arrested on charges of bribery and extortion.
Former state Assemblyman Danel Van Pelt was either a consultant following the rules on how to perform his new job or he was a corrupt politician looking to make extra cash when he accepted $10,000 from a crooked developer, attorneys argued to jurors at the conclusion of his trial this morning.
Charged with bribery and extortion, Van Pelt has insisted the $10,000 he took from disgraced real estate developer Solomon Dwek last year was a consultant’s fee.
In their closing arguments, federal prosecutors called that claim a "charade.’’
"This claim of being a private consultant, it’s just not true,’’ said Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao.
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"If the defendant is a lawful legitimate consultant, why doesn’t he tell anyone about the $10,000 he took?’’ Chao asked the jury of nine women and six men in Trenton. "The defendant was silent because he knew what he was doing was wrong.’’
But defense attorney Robert Fuggi Jr. asserted insisted the "Achilles heel’’ in the government’s case is its inability to prove that Van Pelt knew he was doing something wrong.
He argued Van Pelt, elected to the Assembly in 2007, relied on advice from Marci Hochman, general ethics counsel to the state Assembly, about what was permissible in starting a job as a consultant.
He said Van Pelt may have been ``a little naïve,’’ but insisted his client had ``no intent to deceive.’’
"Is this the conduct of a man who wants to cloak everything in darkness and secrecy?’’ Fuggi asked jurors.
Federal prosecutors contend Van Pelt, who was also a mayor and committeeman in Ocean Township, took $10,000 from Dwek to influence state permitting approval on a development project in the Ocean County community.
"There was certainly a meeting of the minds between Mr. Van Pelt and Mr. Dwek when they sat down for their meetings,’’ Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao said. ``You don’t have to read Mr. Van Pelt’s mind to know the defendant understood what Mr. Dwek was talking about,’’
Fuggi said Van Pelt neither promised or did anything improper.
"There was never a meeting of the minds and his conduct supports that,’’ Fuggi said before a crowded courtroom. ``The government sees things in a very cynical way. Maybe that’s their view of the world.’’
Dwek began working with federal investigators after he was arrested in 2006 on charges of defrauding PNC Bank out of $50 million. Posing as a developer named David Esenbach, Dwek met with dozens of politicians over two years offering them money for help with development projects. Van Pelt was arrested last July as part of that massive investigation where 44 public officials and rabbis were charged either with money laundering or corruption.
| Secret video camera captures assemblyman Van Pelt accepting an envelope of cash |