Carmelo Garcia

Carmelo G. Garcia
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 33rd district
In office
January 14, 2014 – January 12, 2016
Serving with Raj Mukherji
Preceded bySean Connors
Ruben Ramos
Succeeded byAnnette Chaparro
Personal details
Born (1975-04-25) April 25, 1975
Hoboken, New Jersey
PartyDemocratic
OccupationPolitician, executive business coach, speaker, and author

Carmelo G. Garcia (born April 25, 1975) is an American politician from the state of New Jersey. He represented the 33rd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly as part of the Democratic Party for one two-year term.[1][2][3] In June 2024, he pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and bribery charges related to his time working for the Newark, New Jersey, city government from 2017 to 2019.[4]

Early life and education

Garcia grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey and graduated from Hoboken High School.[5][6][7] He graduated from Seton Hall University, where he received a BS in Criminal Justice and Sociology, and from Stevens Institute of Technology, where he earned a Master of Science in Information Systems.[2] Garcia was one of 50 people selected in 2012 to participate in NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program,[8] which focuses on affordable housing and includes a three-week session at Harvard University.[9]

Career

In 1998 he was named as an aide, with an annual salary of $6,000, to Hudson County Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons. Garcia was first elected to the Hoboken Board of Education in 2002 at age 26, won re-election three times and served as president and vice president of the board.[10][5] In 2006 he was reprimanded by the New Jersey School Ethics Commission for his August 2005 votes to hire his brother as a custodian and to award a $60,000 contract to Fitzgibbons' public relations firm.[11] He resigned from the school board in 2013 when he won election to the state assembly.[12]

In 2001, Mayor Dave Roberts appointed Garcia as Hoboken's first minority Director of Human Services.[5][13] He left the position in 2007 when he accepted a job as assistant director of the federally funded Hoboken Housing Authority (HHA); he was also the first Latino to hold this role.[14][5][7] Garcia was terminated as executive director of the HHA in 2014 and subsequently sued the housing board, claiming Mayor Dawn Zimmer was engaging in "ethnic cleansing" by removing minorities from positions of power.[15][16] Garcia sued the HHA, first in 2013, then again in 2014 when the first suit was denied with prejudice.[17] The amended suit was dismissed in January 2016 and he filed again in May 2016; this time, the HHA counter-sued him.[15][18] In late 2017, the lawsuit was settled and Garcia was awarded $700,000.[19]

In 2013, prior to the termination of his HHA contract, Garcia ran for the General Assembly in the June Democratic primary election on a ticket with State Senator Brian P. Stack and Raj Mukherji.[20] In April, however, following a lawsuit filed by several local residents,[21] Judge Peter Bariso ruled that since the HHA received federal subsidies, Garcia was subject to the Hatch Act of 1939, which bans those whose salary is paid primarily through federal funds from running in partisan elections.[22] Shortly after, an appellate court overturned Judge Bariso's decision based on a change in Hatch Act regulations and Garcia was deemed eligible to run for office.[23][24] Stack, Mukherji, and Garcia swept the November general election and assumed office.[25] Garcia, along with other Democrats on his 2013 legislative ticket, endorsed Republican Chris Christie in his successful bid for re-election as Governor of New Jersey that year.[26]

As part of the Assembly, he worked on the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, the Human Services Committee and the Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee.[7][27] During this time, he sponsored or co-sponsored 300 bills and his office authored at least six pieces of legislature, one of which champions for better rights for people living with Alzheimer's disease.[28][29] After 14 months in office, Garcia lost the backing of the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization, which chose Annette Chaparro, a Zimmer-approved candidate, to run for his seat in the November 2015 election.[30]

In August 2015, he began campaigning against another Zimmer-approved candidate, Jennifer Giattino, for a seat on the Hoboken City Council.[28][31][5][32] In November, Giattino beat Garcia by more than 200 votes.[33]

In early 2015, Garcia began working for the nonprofit Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC), now known as Invest Newark.[34] He was executive vice president and chief real estate officer until April 2018.[35]

From 2017 to 2018, he worked as the deputy mayor and acting director of Newark's Department of Economic and Housing Development (DEHD) before being replaced by John Palmieri. He was moved into the role of chief of development, which he held until April 2019.[36][3][35] Beginning about June 2017, he also began working as the executive director of the federally funded Irvington Housing Authority in Irvington, New Jersey.[1][2][37][35] As of 2021, he is no longer listed as executive director of the Irvington Housing Authority.[38]

After leaving his Newark government positions about April 2019, he became the manager of a consulting firm and works with his daughter, Leah Garcia, on marketing a life coaching app.[35][39]

Conspiracy charges and guilty plea

In October 2020, Garcia was identified as a co-conspirator in the federal indictment of Malik Frederick, a consultant who worked with real estate developers looking to do business in Newark. In October 2020, Frederick had pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud and falsifying his 2017 tax return.[19] Joseph McCallum, a Newark city council member and chairman of NCEDC, was also identified as a co-conspirator in Frederick's indictment.[40] In March 2022, McCallum pleaded guilty to wire fraud and falsifying his 2018 tax return and was expected to be sentenced in July 2022.[41][42]

In October 2021, Garcia was indicted on charges that he accepted bribes in exchange for using his official positions within Newark "as specific opportunities arose" for conspirators Frank Valvano Jr. and Irwin Sablosky to obtain real estate.[19][34][43] Garcia is alleged to have accepted expensive jewelry and more than $25,000 in cash from Valvano and Sablosky.[44][45]

On June 26, 2024, in Newark federal court, Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the city of Newark and the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, honest services wire fraud and receiving bribes in connection with the business of a federally funded local government and organization. “We entrust public officials to act in the best interest of the people they serve, not to abuse their position for their own personal gain,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said in a statement. The conspiracy and fraud charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and the bribery charge carries a 10 year maximum prison term.[46] His sentencing, originally set for April 15, 2025,[47] was postponed until October 7, 2025.[48] That sentencing date has been pushed back to January 8, 2026.[49]

Sablosky admitted bribing Garcia and pleaded guilty on October 3, 2024, and is expected to be sentenced on February 20, 2025.[50] In December 2024, Valvano also admitted to bribing Garcia and pleaded guilty to two counts of an indictment charging him with honest services fraud and bribery. His sentencing is set for April 16, 2025.[51]

Personal life

Garcia is married to Margarita and has four children.[28][7]

In 2011, the Puerto Rican Culture Committee honored him with an Outstanding Achievement Award for his advocacy work and for being a role model for Hoboken youth.[52]

He has served as a board member for the Act Now Foundation for Alzheimer's Disease and educational group African Views and is the founder of the Save the Youth Academy, an after-school hip-hop dance program at Hoboken High School aimed at at-risk youth.[5][28][53]

References

  1. ^ a b Jackman, EmilyAnn (July 31, 2020). "IHA puts in the effort to protect residents and improve township". Essex News Daily. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "GARCIA, MUKHERJI TAKE OATH OF OFFICE IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY". New Jersey Assembly Democrats. n.d. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b NJ.com, Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for (November 19, 2020). "Ex-Newark deputy mayor took $25K, fancy jewelry as bribes, feds allege". nj. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  4. ^ Sheldon, Chris (June 27, 2024). "Ex-deputy mayor admits taking $25K bribe in N.J. restaurant bathroom". nj.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Clark, Amy Sara (April 2, 2019). "Hoboken School Board candidates make their cases, Contender I: Carmelo Garcia". NJ.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Alfaro, Alyana (August 5, 2015). "Does Carmelo Garcia Transcend Hoboken's Divisions?". Observer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d "Assemblyman Carmelo G. Garcia Bio Page". NJ Assembly Majority Office. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  8. ^ Deady, Christina (June 18, 2021). "NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program: Focus on Results". Neighborworks.org. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Fedschun, Travis (March 30, 2019). "Hoboken Housing Authority head Garcia to study at Harvard". NJ.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Brenzel, Kathryn (March 29, 2019). "Hoboken school board seeks to replace trustee Carmelo Garcia". NJ.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Reprimand for Board of Ed member Ethics commission cites Garcia for voting on brother's promotion, contract for FitzMedia". Hudson Reporter Archive. December 19, 2006. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  12. ^ Brenzel, Kathryn (December 6, 2013). "Hoboken school board seeks to replace trustee Carmelo Garcia". nj.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Skontra, Alan (September 3, 2013). "(Garcia) Hoboken Stories: Remembering Storm Sandy. Oral History Interview: Carmelo Garcia, Sept. 3, 2013". Hoboken Historical Museum. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Mayor selects new human services director One of top positions at City Hall will be run by former school board member". Hudson Reporter Archive. Hudson Reporter. October 2, 2007. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Heinis, John (December 19, 2017). "Sources: Hoboken Housing Authority OK's $700k settlement with ex-director". Hudson County View. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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  18. ^ Heinis, John (May 13, 2016). "2 years after termination, Carmelo Garcia, HHA file dueling lawsuits". Hudson County View. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  19. ^ a b c Heinis, John (October 24, 2020). "Ex-Hoboken Assemblyman Garcia identified as co-conspirator in Newark corruption case". Hudson County View. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  20. ^ Pizarro, Max (March 26, 2013). "Sources: Garcia and Mukherji to run in LD33". Hudson County View. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  21. ^ "Five Hoboken Residents Challenge Housing Authority Exec's Assembly Run". Hoboken, NJ Patch. April 11, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  22. ^ Pizarro, Max (April 19, 2013). "BREAKING: Judge rules Garcia ineligible to run for LD33 seat". Observer. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  23. ^ Moses, Claire (April 30, 2013). "Carmelo Garcia Back on the Ballot as Assembly Candidate". Patch. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  24. ^ Pizarro, Max (April 30, 2013). "BREAKING: Garcia wins appeal in LD33". Observer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  25. ^ Koeske, Zak (November 5, 2013). "Hudson County Dems Sweep District 33 Races". Patch. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  26. ^ Pizarro, Max (June 10, 2013). "Christie collects endorsements by Stack, his assembly ticket-mates and UC commissioner". Observer. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  27. ^ "GARCIA TO TAKE A SEAT ON ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION, FINANCE, AND HUMAN RESOURCE PANELS". New Jersey Assembly Democrats. n.d. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  28. ^ a b c d Strunsky, Steve (January 17, 2019). "Ousted from public office, Carmelo Garcia may be down, but he's not bowing out". NJ.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  29. ^ "In New Jersey, Undercounted Alzheimer's Cases Spur Legislative Action". Easy Reader. July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  30. ^ Heinis, John (March 7, 2015). "HCDO unites to announce county executive, Assembly picks for June primary". Hudson County View. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  31. ^ Heinis, John (March 31, 2015). "Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia won't seek re-election in LD-33". Hudson County View. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  32. ^ Torres, Agustin C. (August 8, 2015). "Hoboken's outgoing assemblyman wants to be wanted -- in the 6th Ward - Political Insider". NJ.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  33. ^ Zeitlinger, Ron (November 3, 2015). "Zimmer-backed candidates win 4 seats in Hoboken City Council race". NJ.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  34. ^ a b Kiefer, Eric (November 19, 2020). "Ex-Assemblyman From Hoboken Accused Of Bribery Scheme In Newark". Patch. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  35. ^ a b c d Criminal complaint
  36. ^ Bonamo, Mark J. (August 21, 2018). "Garcia Replaced as Head of Newark's Economic and Housing Development Department". Tap Into Newark. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  37. ^ Skyes, Chris (April 27, 2017). "IHA commissioners appoint new executive director". Essex News Daily. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  38. ^ "Executive Director". ihanj. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  39. ^ "About | Motivate You". Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  40. ^ Panico, Rebecca (October 20, 2020). "Newark councilman charged in alleged kickback scheme". nj.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  41. ^ "District of New Jersey | Newark City Council Member Admits Scheming to Obtain Bribes and Kickbacks and Subscribing to False Tax Return | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  42. ^ Rickman, Rick (March 16, 2022). "Corrupt Newark, NJ councilman took $31,000, won't step down". New Jersey 101.5. Archived from the original on June 29, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  43. ^ "Former City of Newark Official Charged with Scheming with Two Newark Businessmen to Obtain Bribes". Department of Justice. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  44. ^ Panico, Rebecca (November 19, 2018). "Ex-Newark deputy mayor took $25K, fancy jewelry as bribes, feds allege". NJ.com. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  45. ^ Katzban, Nicholas. "Ex-Newark official accused of taking bribes, using developers as 'money wells'". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  46. ^ "District of New Jersey | Former Newark Deputy Mayor and Director of Newark Department of Economic and Housing Development Admits Scheming with Two Newark Businessmen to Obtain Bribes | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. June 26, 2024. Archived from the original on November 13, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  47. ^ Heinis, John (December 13, 2024). "After Garcia's sentencing postponed, Newark businessman admits to bribing him". Hudson County View. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  48. ^ Heinis, John (April 15, 2025). "Ex-Hoboken Assemblyman Garcia's bribery sentencing delayed nearly 6 months". Hudson County View. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  49. ^ Heinis, John (September 10, 2025). "Ex-Hoboken Assemblyman Garcia won't be sentenced for bribery until next year". Hudson County View. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  50. ^ "District of New Jersey | Newark Businessman Admits Bribing Former Newark Deputy Mayor and Director of Newark Department of Economic and Housing Development | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  51. ^ "District of New Jersey | Newark Businessman Admits Bribing Former Newark Deputy Mayor And Director Of Newark Department Of Economic And Housing Development | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. December 13, 2024. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  52. ^ Hortillosa, Summer Dawn (March 30, 2019). "Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director recognized for impact on Latino community". NJ.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  53. ^ Baldwin, Carly (April 2, 2019). "Save the Youth Academy at HHA". NJ.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
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