44 pols, others arrested in NJ money laundering scheme

A New Jersey real estate developer served as a cooperating witness in a money laundering investigation that led to the arrest of three New Jersey mayors, two state assemblymen and 39 other people today, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Sources identified the developer as Solomon Dwek, who was arrested in a separate case in 2006 for trying to defraud a bank of more than $50 million. (Dwek’s 2006 case is still pending.) Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra said that $3 million had been laundered through Dwek, son of Rabbi Isaac Dwek, over the past two years by rabbis from Syrian Jewish communities. Dwek also approached several Hudson County public officials in 2007 and offered money in exchange for assistance getting building approvals, the U.S. Attorney’s office said. [Star-Ledger] and [Post]