He was doing it for way too long
A state grand jury indicted Mitchell B. Perkins, 67, Stafford Township on Wednesday for accepting bribes from contractors in exchange for preferential treatment in scheduling and conducting inspections more quickly, Acting Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said.
In at least one instance, Perkins approved work that was not inspected, he said. Perkins was indicted on one count of bribery, two counts of official misconduct, two counts of acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior, and one count of pattern of official misconduct.
How the Investigation was Implemented?
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption Bureau South Unit and the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.
The investigation began after New Jersey State Police received information that Perkins had accepted bribes from contractors between May 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2015. Perkins accepted four separate payments of $300 from an electrical contractor as consideration for preferential treatment.
But the contractor was a cooperating witness for the State Police who asked Perkins to inspect his work more quickly. Perkins returned the first payment, but he then kept the three later payments. Perkins had previously inordinately delayed inspections of the contractor’s works sites, but began to conduct timely inspections. Perkins once approved electrical work performed by the contractor without first inspecting the work. He then accepted the fourth $300 payment, the release states.
The charge
He is charged with a second count of official misconduct and a second count of acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior based on multiple instances dating back to 1997, when he accepted other payments from contractors to influence the performance of his work as an electrical sub-code official and inspector for Lakewood Township.
Thoughts?
Is he just a victim for the press and public? Is he only one in the hundreds of inspection employees that are bribed? If not, why he wasn’t arrested way earlier? Let us know your thoughts, and maybe let us know about some info of ongoing, possible bribery, in your county.
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