Political Consultant Charged in New Jersey Corruption Scandal Found Dead
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A political consultant involved in a sweeping corruption scandal in New Jersey was found dead Tuesday in his Jersey City apartment, a bottle of pills by his side, authorities said.
The consultant, Jack M. Shaw, was among 44 people arrested — including three mayors and two state lawmakers — in an FBI sting that started with an investigation into the black-market sale of human kidneys and fake Gucci handbags.
Federal prosecutors accused the 61-year-old Shaw of taking $10,000 in bribes for himself from a government informant and proposing that the cooperating witness make a $10,000 campaign contribution to an unnamed Jersey City official.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Shaw's cause of death hasn't yet been determined. Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio told The Jersey Journal that it doesn't seem to be a homicide, but nothing has been ruled out. DeFazio said a relative found Shaw's body and called police shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday.
A preliminary autopsy conducted Wednesday didn't establish a cause of death. DeFazio says more toxicology tests are needed.
No weapon was discovered at the scene, he said, adding Shaw was suffering from an undisclosed illness.
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Earlier Tuesday, Secaucus, N.J., Mayor Dennis Elwell resigned. He faces charges he accepted $10,000 from a federal cooperating witness in exchange for help on a building project in Secaucus.
Jersey City's mayor has suspended without pay six employees arrested last week in the probe, including Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Most are charged with accepting bribes from a federal cooperating witness posing as a developer looking to gain approvals for a building project.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.