Jury selection begins in first trial of NJ corruption probe in which 44 people were arrested

Jury selection begins in NJ corruption probe trial

NEWARK, N.J. — Jury selection has begun in the first trial of New Jersey’s largest corruption probe.

Suspended Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini faces extortion and bribery charges. The trial is expected to start this week.

Beldini was among 44 people arrested July 23 in a two-track investigation into money laundering and political corruption.

Beldini, who has pleaded not guilty, faces several counts of attempted extortion and bribery for allegedly accepting money from a government witness posing as a corrupt developer.

Ten defendants have pleaded guilty, but those who plan to go to court will be closely watching the trial to see how jurors react to Solomon Dwek, the cooperating witness whose secret tapes of public officials form the basis of the government’s case.