(http://www.newsday.com/) _News_ (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland) | _Entertainment_ (http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/) | _Sports_ (http://www.newsday.com/sports/) | _Jobs_ (http://www.newsday.com/go/long_island_jobs/) | _Cars_ (http://www.newsday.com/go/long_island_cars/) | _Real Estate_ (http://www.newsday.com/go/long_island_homes/) | _Apartments_ (http://www.newsday.com/go/long_island_apartments/) | _ShopLocal_ (http://www.newsday.com/go/shopping/) | _Place An Ad_ (http://www.newsday.com/placeanad/) _am New York_ (http://www.amny.com/) Monmouth developer admits giving mayor $50,000 bribe
December 21, 2006, 5:38 PM EST NEWARK, N.J. (AP) _ A real estate developer pleaded guilty Thursday to giving a mayor a $50,000 bribe in return for zoning approvals that allowed him to build more homes. The plea by Moshe G. Gohar regarding Ocean Township Mayor Terrance D. Weldon is the latest in a string of corruption cases involving officials, developers and contractors in Monmouth County. Weldon, who was also the city manager for Asbury Park, pleaded guilty to corruption charges in 2002 and awaits sentencing. Gohar, 57, an Ocean Township resident, admitted that he conspired with the late Philip Konvitz and Weldon so that Gohar could build more than 75 homes at "Apple Farms," an 81-acre development. Before rezoning, only 33 homes were permitted. Gohar, who was indicted in February, admitted in court that he gave $50,000 in cash to Weldon in the spring or early summer of 2001. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to give bribes, which carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is to be sentenced March 28 by U.S. District Judge Joel L. Pisano. Konvitz had been indicted in October 2002, along with former Asbury Park Councilman James Condos, regarding waterfront development in that city. Konvitz was declared incompetent to stand trial in April 2003. He was 92 at the time and suffering from dementia and other ailments. He died in 2005. Condos pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 months in prison in March 2005. In another related case, Howard M. Schoor, a founder of a prominent engineering firm, Schoor DePalma, was indicted last week on charges he paid $16,000 in bribes to Weldon and another official in Ocean Township in order to get and keep contracts for his company. ___P> On the Net: U.S. Attorney's Office: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/ Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc. NEWS AND INFORMATION WITH A UNIQUE TWIST The Brown Report on the Electric News weeknights a 7 est._www.electricnews.com_ (http://www.electricnews.com/)
