New Jersey Corruption Hits Schools.

May 18, 2011 at 4:00 P.M. New allegations of conflict of interest and rumors of bribery at New Jersey's Supreme Court will be explored in a forthcoming post.

Peter J. Sampson, "2 Charged in Sports Gear Scam: Million Dollar Fraud Allegedly Hit N.J. Schools," in The Record, May 13, 2011, at p. A-1.

"Two former executives at a Pennsylvania athletic equipment company were arrested Wednesday on charges they ... bilked millions of dollars from schools and colleges through the sale and reconditioning of football helmets and other gear."

This latest scam (affecting New Jersey schools, mostly) simply reinforces the depressing conclusion that N.J. government is a lost cause.

The Garden State is a visibly failed jurisdiction where organized crime and corrupt courts are out of control. The solution to this dilemma in Trenton is to silence critics or to frame opponents of political bosses for "something, I don't know what."

Behind-the-back destruction of critics by Jersey mafia guys in government and law is one theme of the recent bestseller concerning America's Soprano State.

"Among more than two-dozen schools referenced in a 22-count indictment were Lyndhurst High School, Morristown High School, Passaic Technical and Vocational High School, Rutgers University and public schools in Newark and Jersey City."

New Jersey prosecutors and police -- state and county, equally -- failed to detect these frauds which resulted, allegedly, in the indictment of local politicians, like Stephen M. Sweeney, Richard J. Codey, and Bob Menendez. I am referring to local politicians "like" these three tarnished men, but not to these individuals themselves who have, thus far, escaped indictment. ("Does Senator Menendez Have Mafia Friends?" and "Does Stephen M. Sweeney, esq. Lie to the Press?" then "Richard J. Codey, Esq. Immortalized on Canvas at Taxpayers' Expense.")

Mysteriously, federal prosecutors determined further that: " ... defendants collected more than 500 duplicate payments from schools totalling upwards of $970,000."

Nobody saw nothing? This was not the worst of the amounts stolen and the investigation is "ongoing."

In Trenton, according to Kim Guardagno, allegedly, still: "Nobody knows nothing." Mr. Christie, you promised voters "zero tolerance for corruption and careful monitoring of public expenses."

Where was your attorney general when these funds were scammed from New Jersey's children, Mr. Christie?

Sources:

Jane Perlez, "Denying Links to Military, Pakistan's Spy Chief Denounces U.S. Before Parliament," in The New York Times, May 14, 2011, at p. A7.

"Names of the Dead," in The New York Times, May 14, 2011, at p. A7. (Over 5,500 dead in Iraq; 1,557 dead in the Afghan war; the number of Americans killed in Pakistan is not published; Over 2 million civilians dead or disabled after the sanctions and Iraq wars.)

Scott Shane, "Pornography Is Found in Bin Laden Compound Files, U.S. Officials Say," in The New York Times, May 14, 2011, at p. A7. (C.I.A. porn?)

Jane Perlez, "Questions of Motives In Bombing In Pakistan," in The New York Times, May 14, 2011, at p. A7. (80-100 persons killed or injured in Pakistan suicide bombing responding to bin Laden's assassination, some were Americans.)

Leslie Brody, "Exam Rules Breached: Teachers Gave Kids Improper Help [Answers] on State Tests," in The Record, May 13, 2011, at p. A1. (Cheating is not the answer to New Jersey's corrupt and failing schools problem. Paying teachers more may be more helpful.)

Andrea Alexander, "Top Soil Owner Spotted at Site, DEP Says: Allegedly, Was Trying to Remove Records," in The Record, May 13, 2011, at p. L-1. (OAE does much the same tampering with witnesses, fabricating evidence, obstructing the record. That's Jersey for ya!)

Justo Bautista, "Cliffside Park Man Admits Role in Identity Theft Ring," in The Record, May 13, 2011, at p. A10. (Allegedly, this scam was protected by Bob Menendez and the Hudson County machine to say nothing of Diana Lisa Riccioli and her fellow Clifton Ricciolis.)