NJ Councilman In Corruption Bust Due In Court

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Indicted former Jersey City Council president Mariano Vega Jr. is due in federal court Tuesday, one day after resigning from his job.

Vega sent city officials a one-sentence letter Monday announcing his resignation would take effect at 5 p.m. He had remained on the council since his arrest in July 2009 along with 43 others in a massive federal corruption and money laundering investigation.

Vega faces several extortion and bribery counts for allegedly accepting $30,000 from a government witness who posed as a corrupt developer.

Vega stepped down as council president in October but had refused to resign as councilman at-large.

Vega's attorney didn't return a message seeking comment.

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