West New York contractor Victor Coca, who owned a construction company and also ran the WNY Future Vision Super PAC, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to bribing a fire official in order to abate roughly $8.75 million in building fines.Â
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By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Victor Francisco Coca Martin (better known as Victor Coca), 49, with known addresses in North Bergen and West New York, admitted in front of Judge Esther Salas to bribing a West New York fire official on multiple occasions in order to abate about $8.75 million in fines on two separate properties in town yesterday.
Between January and May of 2014, Coca was the owner and president of a West New York construction company – which Hudson County View has identified as YYY Enterprise LLC.
During the court proceeding (where Hudson County View was present), Coca conceded that on March 27, 2014, in order to abate about $14,500 in fines on a Bergenline Avenue property, he offered a $2,000 bribe to a town fire official in exchange for eliminating the fines and obtaining a certificate of occupancy (CO) for the building.
It was also revealed that a second property on Hudson Avenue – which Hudson County View has identified as 6200 Hudson Ave. – had outstanding fines and fire code violations totaling roughly $8.7 million.
Furthermore, Coca admitted that between April 7 and April 21, 2014, that he met with the fire official to bribe him with $5,000 cash, and even drove the official to his then-North Bergen home to give an additional bribe in the form of a $5,000 check made out to the West New York Bureau of Fire Safety in order to eliminate the hefty fines.
The government stated that the first building was owned by a friend of Coca and the Hudson Avenue property was partially owned by Coca.
The fire official was said to be voluntarily cooperating with the FBI and Howard Brownstein, one attorney representing Coca, told Salas he would be making an “imperfect entrapment†argument prior to sentencing and said he plans on sending a subpoena to “Mr. Martinez.â€
The West New York Fire Official is Frank Martinez. Mayor Felix Roque had previously referred to the unnamed cooperating witness in the case as “praiseworthy.”
Coca faces up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, and his sentencing is scheduled for October 20.
Nelson Gonzalez, of Dover, also represented Coca in the court matter.
Hudson County View exclusively reported on Coca negotiating a plea deal for bribery charges back in April.
Coca’s indictment can be read here and his criminal complaint can be read here.
GOOOOD MOOORNING WEST NEW YORK.
Another Murder in West New York Wednesday morning.
This is the 3rd Murder in town in the Last 3 weeks. Another Mugging gone bad or Another Gang related Murder?
Will we find out the truth?
Thank you for the information John Heinis. This means their deal is complete and we will soon hear of a shortened sentence with other indictments, possibly,to follow.
As the prosecutor says! We can’t help U; if U won’t help ureself!
Hands down the Gold Standard of news coverage of this mega-important news story. Congratulations, John Heinis. You are a credit to your profession. God Bless Mr. Frank Martinez. WNY needs more officials like he, Anthony Valdez, Tom and Kim O’Malley. Excellent comment, by a true blue WNY Sage, Tony DeFino.
More Corruption, Dirty Dealing whatever you wish to call it. These guys all end up OK when over. There is always money or assets that SHOULD have been taken. To Stop corruption all assets, any pensions, SS anything with $ that could be due. Should all be pulled. Can’t play the game by the law. Then the Law can play the same and pull these corrupt creeps assets, money ALL that is hidden in kids accounts, Wives Friends whatever. Throw them out of the game and they have to start working in the real world to eat and live.
I live in NJ and there are so many corrupt developers, political people all tied together. They do a short jail time and come out fine with all the hidden funds in family members names. Trenton Governor Tony Mack is in Prison. Why are the courts not listening. STRIP these guys of all funding past, present and future, can’t play by the rules. THEIR LOSS not tax payers. Chesterfield NJ a Farm Community! former Mayor under indictment for Millions. You really think he cares or worries. Not one bit..
Vilma why don’t you defend Roque anymore. Scared of your own Cover ups and probes?????????????
the politicians that served the town of West New York are turning in their graves a town that is a decreased Murders crime and gangs
Word has it the Feds are getting ready to move on Silvio Acosta once again.
Any day now.
Lets hope so West NY.
Amen David. Amen.
Praise the Lord & pass the Indictments…Hope he has saved up a nice juicy politician for the day he mite have to serve him up to save his own ass! We R nasty SOB’s , hunh Patrick…PS How is Sponge Bob doing?
He is schwabbing the deck of our fair City CLEAN of those KORRUPT KRUSTY Krab kritters, Gary!