A Hudson County roads inspector has been charged with accepting a bribe to “delete any any violations” he issued to a Bayonne construction project, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit, Special Investigations Section in conjunction with the Special Investigations Unit of the Bayonne Police Department, arrested and charged Hudson County roads inspector Barry Smith with bribery, theft by extortion and official misconduct charges, Suarez said in a statement.
Smith, 52, of Bayonne, was arrested yesterday afternoon after he allegedly asked for, and
accepted, a cash payment to delete any violations he may have issued regarding a construction project in the area of John F. Kennedy Boulevard and 15th Street in Bayonne.
As a result, he has been charged with bribery, theft by extortion, and two counts of
official misconduct – one being a crime of the second-degree and one of the third-degree.
The charges against Smith also allege he previously accepted a similar cash payment
in December of 2019.
HCPO spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said that “one of the incidents was over $200 but less than $500 and the other was $200 or less,” but did not distinguish which one allegedly happened first.
Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office HCPO Public Integrity Unit, Special
Investigations Section and the Special Investigations Unit of the Bayonne Police Department with the investigation and arrest.
Any other individuals who may be victims of Smith should contact the Hudson County
Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit, Special Investigations Section at 201-795-6400, ext. 6724 or ext. 6727.