In a significant blow to the Democrats, Al-Tarik Onque, a former senior aide to Newark Mayors Cory Booker and Ras Baraka, has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in the deep blue city. The DOJ has charged him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.
For context, the disgraced bureaucrat admitted to taking cash bribes to hasten building code and occupancy certificate processes, including providing falsified documents. The plea was made before former Trump lawyer and Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba highlighted the case on social media. If convicted, Onque faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
In any case, the DOJ issued a press release explaining the case. According to the document, “A former Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.”
Adding more context, the DOJ explained the charges. “Al-Tarik Onque, 49, of East Orange, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to an Information charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court,” the official document stated.
Blasting the allegedly corrupt official, the DOJ wrote, “Onque previously worked as a Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark. As a Senior Aide, Onque primarily responded to constituent complaints, performed constituent services, and worked with organizations in the community.”
Digging into the sordid details, the DOJ explained how “Onque used his official position in the City of Newark to solicit individuals seeking Certificate of Code Compliance (“CCCs”) or Certificate of Occupancy (“COs”) and to offer them expedited acquisition of those documents in exchange for payments of cash bribes. Onque and others induced these individuals to pay cash bribes in connection with multiple properties in or around Newark.”
Detialing how Onque broke the law, the DOJ continued, “Under City of Newark regulations, a CCC had to be obtained from the Newark Department of Engineering, Office of Inspections and Enforcement before certain changes of occupancy; and property owners had to obtain a CO, sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Continued Occupancy (a “CCO”) to ensure a building or premises satisfied Newark code requirements,” officals explained.
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The press release concluded by explaining the consequences of this corruption. The DOJ noted, “The charge of conspiracy to commit honest service fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2026.”
Additionally, Alina Habba took to social media to break the news, “🚨Today a former Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark plead guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. This is a clear example of a pay-to-play scheme, where public officials exploit their positions of power to obtain bribes in exchange for doing their jobs. This betrays the trust of the very community members they claim to serve,” she stated.
Concluding her comments, she declared, “I will not stand for public corruption anywhere in New Jersey. These charges have a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This is what accountability looks like — and I will continue to fight for the people of New Jersey.”