Ex -WLB councilman pleads guilty to extortion
DeLisa pleads to one charge; gov't. drops four related charges
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

NEWARK - Former West Long Branch Councilman Joseph DeLisa pleaded guilty to corruption-related charges in federal court on Nov. 15.

DeLisa's plea was part of an agreement with the U. S. Attorney's Office that would result in four other charges against him being dropped. The specific charge DeLisa pleaded guilty to was knowingly agreeing to obstruct interstate commerce by extortion.

The proceedings were straightforward, with DeLisa, represented by attorney John McDonald of Somerville, simply answering a series of yes or no questions before federal prosecutors and Judge William Martini.

He admitted that in October 2003, he, along with then-mayor of West Long Branch, Paul Zambrano, met with a cooperating witness for the FBI posing as a demolition contractor in an Atlantic City hotel room. In exchange for DeLisa's official assistance in getting this person contracts, he admitted he received an envelope containing $1,500 cash.

Martini said DeLisa would have to return for sentencing on March 15 at 10 a.m. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison with a fine up to $250,000.

In determining the actual sentence for DeLisa, Martini will consult the advisory U.S. sentencing guidelines, which recommend sentencing ranges, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie said in a press release issued after the defendant's court appearance.

Those sentencing ranges take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors, Christie explained.

DeLisa, 50, served on the West Long Branch council between 1998 and 2005. He was indicted in April 2006 for accepting $15,500 in corrupt cash payments and campaign contributions. The money, according to Christie, was for official assistance in the construction of a drugstore which had been the subject of intense public opposition.

The case against DeLisa is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marc D. Larkins and Rachael A. Honig.

Before he stepped down from his council seat in March 2005, DeLisa, a Democrat, oversaw the municipality's buildings and grounds committee.

At that time, some borough officials were considering eventual demolition of the present-day police station, an aging structure at 95 Poplar Ave. that had served as the town hall until 2002.

Information released by Christie in February 2005, when both DeLisa and fellow Democrat Zambrano were arrested during the FBI's "Operation Bid Rig" investigation into public corruption, indicates that the two men had met with the federal government's cooperating witness while under the impression that he was a demolition contractor looking to be hired to raze 95 Poplar Ave.

The supposed contractor, later identified as Robert "Duke" Steffer of Ocean Township and Florida, was someone known to numerous public officials as one who had worked in building and demolition, Christie has said.

Before they were apprehended, both Zambrano and DeLisa, as well as 13 other public officials who were nabbed in the FBI sting on Feb. 22, 2005, were extensively recorded on video and audio tape in discussions with undercover agents they believed were employed by Steffer, Christie said.

Zambrano, who also resigned in March 2005 in the wake of charges that he had accepted a collective total of $15,000 from Steffer, pleaded guilty to those charges on Aug. 24, 2005.

Greater Media staff writer Sue Morgan contributed to this story.