A top aide to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has officially pled guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, admitting involvement in a pay-to-play corruption scheme that traded government favors for bribes.
Alina Habba, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced the plea in a blistering statement on X:
“Today a former Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark plead guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.
This is a clear example of a pay-to-play scheme, where public officials exploit their positions of power to obtain bribes in exchange for doing their jobs. This betrays the trust of the very community members they claim to serve.
I will not stand for public corruption anywhere in New Jersey. These charges have a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This is what accountability looks like — and I will continue to fight for the people of New Jersey.”
Today a former Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark plead guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. This is a clear example of a pay-to-play scheme, where public officials exploit their positions of power to obtain bribes in exchange for doing their jobs. This betrays…
— US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) September 3, 2025
This latest scandal follows Mayor Ras Baraka’s own arrest just last month after storming into the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in an act of political grandstanding.
He was charged with criminal trespass before Habba’s office announced that the misdemeanor case had been dropped.
But Baraka hasn’t let the matter go. Instead of accepting responsibility, he filed a lawsuit against Acting U.S. Attorney Habba and Homeland Security Special Agent Ricky Patel, accusing them of “false arrest and malicious prosecution.” His attorneys even smeared Habba as a “political operative” in a 17-page complaint.
Habba responded on the lawsuit stating, “My advice to the mayor – feel free to join me in prioritizing violent crime and public safety. Far better use of time for the great citizens of New Jersey.”
Related article:
Newark Mayor Baraka Planning to Sue Feds After Arrest at Detention Center – Alina Habba Responds
