Vinnie Baker faces up to 20 years in prison Posted by the _Asbury Park Press_ (http://www.app.com/) on 09/12/07 BY _BOB CULLINANE_ (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) STAFF WRITER NEWARK - Vincent E. "Vinny'' Baker, the former owner of an Asbury Park restaurant, pleaded guilty today to laundering $15,000 he received from an FBI operative during "Operation Bid Rig,'' an undercover sting operation that resulted in corruption charges against more than 20 public officials.
Baker, 63, told U.S District Court Judge Jose L. Linares that he received the cash in May and June 2001 from Robert "Duke'' Steffer, the FBI's cooperating witness who was posing as a demolition contractor. In return for the cash, Baker said today "I issued (Steffer) a check on two occasions for $6,750 each,'' for a total of $13,500. The difference of $1,500 was Baker's "fee'' for laundering the cash. In exchange for his plea, the U.S. Attorney's Office will dismiss bribery charges against Baker upon his sentencing. Judge Linares set sentencing for Dec. 19. Baker faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Read Thursday's Asbury Park Press for complete coverage of this story. 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/) KEVIN BROWN ALSO PUBLISHES _www.njeminentdomainabuse.com_ (http://www.njeminentdomainabuse.com/) ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
