A real estate developer was charged yesterday for his role in a scheme to bribe Newark, New Jersey, employees and for conspiring to sell law enforcement identification cards embossed with the insignia of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.
Menashe Davidovitz, 31, of Airmont, New York, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with the business and transactions of a federally funded local government and organisation.
Mr Davidovitz was also charged with one count of conspiracy to sell false seals and one count of conspiracy to sell official insignia.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From June 2024 through November 2024, Mr Davidovitz conspired with others to provide Newark employees with cash and other benefits in exchange for the employees’ official action in matters related to Newark properties that Mr Davidovitz owned.
Specifically, Mr Davidovitz paid bribes to obtain permits and certificates, including certificates of occupancy, which were required before his properties could be occupied or sold. Mr Davidovitz also paid bribes to local officials to help resolve violations at his properties.
From October 2021 through January 2023, Mr Davidovitz worked with his co-conspirators, including Jonathan Ledesma, a former U.S. air marshal, to sell “Law Enforcement Family Member” cards that identified their bearers as “family member[s]” of Mr Ledesma, “a federal officer”.
These cards were embossed with the apparent insignia of DHS and a QR code linked to Mr Ledesma’s cell phone.
Although Mr Davidovitz was not authorised to sell the DHS insignia or any colourable imitation of it, he received approximately $30,000 from the sale of these cards.