Consultant who pled guilty to tax evasion suspended from Jersey City job

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A Newark political consultant and fundraiser who pled guilty to tax evasion earlier this week has been suspended without pay from her $75,000 a year job at Jersey City City Hall.

Linda Jumah. Facebook photo.
Linda Jumah. Facebook photo.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Linda Jumah, 35, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court to one count of tax evasion. She was released on $75,000 unsecured bond, authorities said.

According to court documents, Jumah’s consulting firm, Elite Strategies LLC, earned $282,843 in 2015, yet only reported an income of $20,000 to the IRS.

Additionally, Jersey City’s official website identifies Jumah as a principal community organization specialist, who should be contacted regarding concerns about the city’s Earned Sick Leave Law.

Public records show that Jumah earns $75,000 a year at her Jersey City job, as of January.

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said that Jumah has been suspended without pay and will have an employee hearing to decide if she is terminated, which is standard procedure.

“This is the same as every other employee, but it is important to note that this has nothing to do with her position in Jersey city, but this is the policy,” she said in an email.

TapIntoNewark reported that Jumah’s firm received at least $65,000 in consulting fees from Newark Mayor Ras Baraka between July 2015 and April 2017.

Baraka has been a close political ally of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, receiving his endorsement for mayor in 2014.

This led Baraka to repay the favor by supporting Fulop’s expected run for governor last year, just weeks before he backed out of the race and decided to seek re-election instead.


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