Post by Logan on Feb 19, 2016 0:20:15 GMT -6
TRENTON — The former CEO of what was one of the state's most politically connected engineering firms is facing four years in state prison after admitting to his role in a $1 million scheme to circumvent New Jersey's pay-to-play laws.
Howard Birdsall, 72, pleaded guilty Thursday to corporate misconduct in Superior Court in Ocean County, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
Birdsall, of Brielle, was the top corporate officer and largest shareholder of Birdsall Services Group, the now-defunct Monmouth County firm that folded after investigators found executives and employees were reimbursed by the company for campaign donations to politicians.
Under a plea deal, Howard Birdsall faces the prison time and will pay $49,808 — the total amount of political donations he personally made in the scheme. Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said in a statement Thursday that Birdsall's plea "should serve as a warning to any corporate officials who would engage in this type of criminal scheme."
Read more: www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/birdsall_ceo_pleads_guilty_in_huge_nj_pay-to-play.html
Howard Birdsall, 72, pleaded guilty Thursday to corporate misconduct in Superior Court in Ocean County, according to the state Attorney General's Office.
Birdsall, of Brielle, was the top corporate officer and largest shareholder of Birdsall Services Group, the now-defunct Monmouth County firm that folded after investigators found executives and employees were reimbursed by the company for campaign donations to politicians.
Under a plea deal, Howard Birdsall faces the prison time and will pay $49,808 — the total amount of political donations he personally made in the scheme. Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said in a statement Thursday that Birdsall's plea "should serve as a warning to any corporate officials who would engage in this type of criminal scheme."
Read more: www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/birdsall_ceo_pleads_guilty_in_huge_nj_pay-to-play.html