Political Consultant Arrested in Corruption Probe Found Dead

Submitted by Melissa Hoffmann on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:38

One of the 44 arrested in last week's massive corruption probe has been found dead in Jersey City, most likely a victim of either natural causes or his own hand.

Police are investigating the death of Jack Shaw, a 61-year-old political consultant accused of funneling bribes to a local official in a federal corruption probe, but have already indicated the death is not a homicide, according to Bloomberg News.

Prescription medication was reportedly found at the scene.

July 23's sweeping probe ranged from the Jersey Shore to Brooklyn and even reached into the state house in Trenton. The arrest sheet included three New Jersey mayors, Jersey City's deputy mayor, two state assemblymen, numerous other public officials and five rabbis from New York and New Jersey.

Shaw died the same day that Dennis Elwell, the mayor of Secaucus, New Jersey resigned to prepare his defense. Elwell, a Democrat, was the first elected official arrested in the corruption investigation to resign. Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano and Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez, both Democrats, are facing calls to step down. Also charged in the FBI complaint were Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt, a Republican from Ocean Township, and Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith, a Jersey City Democrat.

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