Former Hoboken Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia was sentenced to one year and a day in prison earlier today after pleading guilty to federal bribery charges nearly two years ago.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Garcia, 51, who represented the then-33rd Legislative District in the state Assembly between 2014 and 2016, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Madelene Cox Arleo at a nearly-hour long hearing this morning, court documents show.
He was also issued a $30,000 fine and will be on supervised released for three years after his time is served, alcohol testing and mental health treatment mandatory, as will be new debt restrictions and financial disclosures.
“Mr. Garcia was sentenced today to 12 months and 1 day. The judge credited his life of good deeds, public service, genuine remorse, and rehabilitation while balancing the need to send a message to officials who violate their oath of office,” criminal defense attorney Robert G. Stahl, who represented Garcia in the matter, told HCV in an email.
“The scores of letters from community leaders, friends, family, co-workers, and religious leaders all extolled Mr. Garcia’s genuine commitment to others through public service, mentorships, community-based projects, and his continued activities to help those less fortunate. With so much support around him, we have no doubt that Mr. Garcia will continue to be a positive force in the community.”
First charged by complaint in November 2020, Garcia admitted to conspiracy to defraud the city of Newark and the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation of Garcia’s honest services, honest services wire fraud, and receiving bribes in connection with the business of a federally funded local government and organization in June 2024.
His sentencing was delayed at least six times after the case received 20 continuances, as only HCV reported.
From 2017 through April 2019, both while serving as Newark deputy mayor and as an executive officer of what is now Invest Newark, Garcia sought and received significant cash and other gifts from Frank Valvano Jr. and Irwin Sablosky – the former board of education president in Springfield – federal prosecutors charged.
Those two, and others, bribed Garcia to use his official positions and influence within the city of Newark and the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC) to advance real estate development matters of interest to Valvano and Sablosky.
Garcia is also a former housing authority executive director for Hoboken and Irvington, with his last run for office being an unsuccessful bid for the Mile Square City’s 6th Ward council seat in 2016.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey confirmed the sentencing on Wednesday evening via a press release and declined to comment further.
We have a nice bunk for Carmelo waiting in Lewisburg. It’s reserved so that it can keep that Hoboken pride. Once hosting Chris Campos and Peter Cammarano, it will be a special place where Camelo lays his head.
We can, we will, watch him!
Signed,
FCI Lewisburg
What a joke! So he gets a bunch of people to sign letters he probably had written for them, he gets a slap on the wrist. No wonder why corruption can’t be weeded out!
He could! He did! Gold watch him!
He must have given up a few others — because history tells us there are always more out there; eg. Mayor Russo, Senator Menendez, Mayors Elwell, Suarez, Sharpe James et al….. the list is a long one…. What is it about this state? Too many counties, too much money — too much patronage Please stop…..
Another embarrassment to Hoboken
He would not have done it if the public demanded honesty and fair dealing in its political representatives. But how can the public demand honesty and fair dealing from their elected officials when they don’t demand it from themselves? The man is just a refection of the people he represents.
I knew this guy back in the early 2000’s. From day 1 I knew he was slime. 1 year isn’t that long but from what I could see, he thought he’d be able to weasel his way out of serving any time at all – the fact he has to go to prison is a killer for his massive ego and that makes me laugh. Glad to see this loser finally get what he deserved.