In the summer of 2009 the blog Gawker stated "Everybody in New Jersey Was Arrested Yesterday." Now for the first time, the real story behind the biggest corruption bust in New Jersey's notoriously corrupt history Among the forty-four people arrested in July 2009 were three mayors, five Orthodox rabbis, two state legislators, and the flamboyant deputy mayor of Jersey City, Leona Beldini, once a stripper using the stage name "Hope Diamond." At the center of it all was a dubious character named Solomon Dwek, who perpetrated a $50 million Ponzi scheme before copping a plea and wearing a wire as a secret FBI undercover informant, setting up friends, partners, rabbis, and dozens of politicians. Mr. Dwek played his role like an extra in a mob movie. On surveillance tape, he repeatedly referred to his fraudulent "schnookie deals," which is Yiddish for, well, schnook. Full of impossible-to-make-up detail and fresh revelations from the continuing trials and investigations, this book—the inside, untold account of a federal sting operation that moves from the streets of Brooklyn to the diners of Jersey City, and all the way to Israel—is a wonderful tour de force of investigative journalism by the reporting team that broke this amazing story.

In the summer of 2009 the blog Gawker stated "Everybody in New Jersey Was Arrested Yesterday." Now for the first time, The Jersey Sting is the real story behind the biggest corruption bust in New Jersey's notoriously corrupt history. Among the forty-four people arrested in July 2009 were three mayors, five Orthodox rabbis, two state legislators, and the flamboyant deputy mayor of Jersey City, Leona Beldini, once a stripper using the stage name "Hope Diamond." At the center of it all was a dubious character named Solomon Dwek, who perpetrated a $50 million Ponzi scheme before copping a plea and wearing a wire as a secret FBI undercover informant, setting up friends, partners, rabbis, and dozens of politicians. Mr. Dwek played his role like an extra in a mob movie. On surveillance tape, he repeatedly referred to his fraudulent "schnookie deals," which is Yiddish for, well, schnook. Full of impossible-to-make-up detail and fresh revelations from the continuing trials and investigations, this book—the inside, untold account of a federal sting operation that moves from the streets of Brooklyn to the diners of Jersey City, and all the way to Israel—is a wonderful tour de force of investigative journalism by the reporting team that broke this amazing story.

Details the true story of the corruption that has pervaded New Jersey politics, government, and business for the past thirty years. From Jimmy Hoffa purportedly being buried somewhere beneath the end zone in Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, through allegations of a thoroughly corrupt medical and dental university, through Mafia influence at all levels, to a governor who suddenly declares himself a "gay American" and resigns, the Garden State might indeed be better named after the HBO mobsters.--From publisher description.

How could a man like Chris Christie get within shouting distance of a seat in the Oval Office? What does this say about our Justice system, and about us? If you think you know the whole story of Christie's rise and later fall from grace-think again. In his searing tell-all, Ruthless Ambition: The Rise and Fall of Chris Christie, former New Jersey State Assemblyman Louis Manzo recounts an extraordinary tale of political ruthlessness, corruption, and greed while also telling the story of how he was caught in the center of one of the most egregious political scandals in modern-day history: the Bid Rig III sting operation, masterminded by the then United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey and soon-to-be Governor Chris Christie. Manzo shows us how the blind ambitions of Christie and his staff centered on capturing a governorship and the patronage jobs that accompany it, then parlaying that office into a shot at the presidency. Meticulous in backing up everything he says with objective legal documentation, Manzo makes a convincing and disconcerting case for the governor as an unbridled and sinister political figure who made the most of a seriously flawed Department of Justice and overall judicial system to feed his megalomania and desire for power. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in justice and ethical leadership. It can't happen here? Well, it almost did. Soon you will know why. Philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Substitute "understand history" and you can appreciate how Manzo's courageous true tale is poised to help all of us better understand the seemingly incomprehensible.

Why I Went to Prison By Marjorie Parise Why I Went to Prison is the story of how a 55-year-old mother of two was sent to Federal prison. The story involves political corruption, extortion, and a major “land grab” in Ocean County, New Jersey, with the direct involvement from Governor Chris Christie (while NJ State Federal Attorney), with “strong arm” support of Political Boss George Gilmore, in the execution and cover up of crimes committed by elected and appointed public officials. Why I Went to Prison shows how both men were involved in directly sending the author to prison for two years, the sickening depth that political corruption exists in New Jersey, and how the current Federal Attorney turns a blind eye to it all. In short, this is the story of a “whistleblower” who got in the way of the “machine” and was severely punished.

This is a story of the 1970s. Of a road trip in a wood-paneled station wagon, with the kids in the way-back, singing along to the Steve Miller Band. Of brothers waking up early on Saturday mornings for five consecutive hours of cartoons. Of growing up in a magical era populated by Bic pens, Mr. Clean and Scrubbing Bubbles, lightsabers and those oh-so-coveted Schwinn Sting-Ray bikes. And of a father -- one of 3M's greatest and last eight-track salesmen -- traveling across the country on the brand-new Boeing 747, providing for his family but wanting nothing more than to get home. In Sting-Ray Afternoons, Steve Rushin paints an utterly nostalgic, psychedelically vibrant portrait of a decade overflowing with technological evolution, cultural revolution, as well as brotherly, sisterly, and parental love. "Funny, elegiac... a remarkably sunny coming-of-age story about growing up in a Midwest world." -- NPR

"Imagine being implicated in a crime you know you didn't commit and feeling as if those in your closest circle had turned against you in its wake. Can't imagine what that would feel like? Just ask Anthony Suarez. He lived it. In 2008, then-United States Attorney for New Jersey, future New Jersey governor, and failed presidential candidate Chris Christie used his position as the state's chief federal law enforcement officer to advance his own political goals. Unfortunately, Mayor Suarez was caught in the complicated crossfire and wrongly accused of extortion and conspiracy. He spent a nightmarish year and a half fighting the outlandish accusations. In this searing first-hand account of the biggest political sting operation in New Jersey history, Mayor Anthony Suarez of Ridgefield recounts his experience of being one of those implicated in the Operation Bid Rig III takedown, a corruption web so big that over 25 public officials were arrested in connection with the case.