A Newark city council member pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring with an associate to shake down companies seeking development and construction projects in the city, the U.S. attorney’s office said
Joseph McCallum Jr. admitted participating in a scheme between 2017 and 2020 that included a $16,000 bribe from a contracting company and a $25,000 bribe and kickback from a developer’s company. He pleaded guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud and one count of filing a fraudulent tax return.
McCallum has continued to serve on the council since he was charged in Oct. 2020, and his picture remained on the council's website Tuesday. It wasn't immediately clear when he would resign or who would assume his seat. A message was left with Mayor Ras Baraka's office.