Former Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell Takes Stand In Corruption Trial
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Jurors at the corruption trial of a former New Jersey mayor are expected to hear more from the defendant on Tuesday.
Former Secaucus mayor Dennis Elwell took the stand in his own defense on Monday. He's charged with accepting $10,000 from a man purporting to be a crooked developer with accepting $10,000 through a middleman from a crooked developer. The man actually was cooperating with federal authorities.
The federal investigation eventually led to the arrest of 46 defendants on corruption and money laundering charges.
Elwell testified Monday that he often met with developers but never took cash for favors.
He was mayor of Secaucus from 2000 to July 2009, when he resigned following his arrest.
It's possible Elwell's attorneys might call the government cooperator, disgraced real estate speculator Solomon Dwek, to the stand later this week.
If Elwell is convicted, what is the appropriate punishment in this case? Sound off in our comments section below…
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