Jose Uribe, a co-defendant in U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s (D-NJ) corruption case has pleaded guilty to seven counts today after initially entering a not guilty plea in September, agreeing to testify against New Jersey’s senior senator.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“It is understood that the defendant (a) shall truthfully and completely disclose all information with respect to the activities of himself and others concerning all matters about which this Office inquires of him,” the plea agreement says.
” … (b) Shall cooperate fully with this office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and any other law enforcement agency designated by this Office … (e) shall truthfully testify before the grand jury and at any trial and other court proceeding with respect to any matters about which this Office may request his testimony.”
Uribe, an insurance broker who lives in Clifton, previously Union City, pleaded guilty to trying to bribe Menendez through his wife Nadine (they pleaded not guilty when Uribe did), making the down payment for a Mercedes-Convertible in 2019.
According to his plea agreement, signed by his attorney, Daniel Fetterman, and four assistant U.S. attorneys from the Southern District of New York, Uribe has admitted to crimes such as conspiracy to commit bribery, wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and tax evasion.
He faces up to 95 years imprisonment and will forfeit $246,000 in proceeds from his crimes, though his plea deal says his cooperation and testimony against other defendants will earn him leniency from the court.
Senator Menendez, who is accused of acting as a foreign agent to Egypt, as well as trying to influence to government of Qatar to enter into an agreement with developer Fred Dabies, another co-defendant, has filed two motions to dismiss thus far, to no avail.
He is set to go to trial on May 6th, about a month before the June 4th primary.
While he has not announced his political plans as of yet, he is not expected to seek re-election, he has not participated in any county conventions, nor has he agreed to participate in any debates.
For the moment, the race for the Senate seat held by Menendez since 2006 has four declared candidates.
The primary currently looks like a close fight First Lady Tammy Murphy and U.S. Rep. Any Kim (D-3), though Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina and Larry Hamm appear poised to file as well.
Albio are you worried yet?