2002-09-30 -- Mier, Manual -- Guilty Plea -- News Release
Man Admits Conspiring with New York Businessman Rene Abreau and Former Police Chief Alexander Oriente to Extort Money for Protection of Gambling
NEWARK - A friend and associate of Hudson County businessman Rene Abreu pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Abreu, former West New York Chief of Police Alexander Oriente and others to extort money for the protection of illegal gambling, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.
Manuel Mier, 48, of Hillside, also pleaded guilty to conspiring with Abreu and others to structure currency transactions to evade bank reporting requirements.
Mier was one of 11 individuals indicted in a 43-count Indictment in May. The Indictment charged multiple conspiracies including extortion and cash structuring in excess of $2 million, as well as several bank fraud schemes, money laundering, bribery of bank officials and more.
Mier appeared today before U.S. District Judge Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr. to plead guilty in a cooperating plea agreement to Count 17, extortion conspiracy, and Count 18, cash structuring, according to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos F. Ortiz and Deborah L. Goldklang.
Count 17 carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Count 18 carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Judge Greenaway set sentencing for Jan. 6, and continued Mier's bail at $250,000 collateralized bond.
Count 17 of the Indictment charges that Mier conspired with Abreu and others to extort money for the protection of illegal gambling. The count alleges that Abreu and Mier demanded and accepted from Oriente, the former West New York police chief, bribe and protection money from the proceeds of the video gambling business of Boardwalk Amusements. Boardwalk Amusements had been conducting illegal gambling operations with the knowledge and protection of the West New York Police Department (WNYPD). Oriente pleaded guilty to corruption charges in 1998 and was sentenced to 48 months in prison, where he remains. Numerous other police officers and civilians pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial in connection with gambling and prostitution protection.
In exchange for the protection and promotion of this activity by the WNYPD, the owners of Boardwalk Amusements and others made bribe and protection payments directly to Oriente and others, according to the Indictment. Abreu and Mier demanded that Oriente deliver to them the Boardwalk Amusements extortion proceeds, and represented to Oriente that they were acting on behalf of a high-level West New York public official. From in or about June 1995 to in or about July 1997, Abreu and Mier received these cash payments from Oriente and others.
Count 18 charged Mier, Abreu, and others with conspiring to structure currency transactions, by causing in excess of $2 million to be deposited into accounts at Hudson United Bank and other financial institutions in amounts of less than $10,000, to avoid the filing of currency-transaction reports by the financial institutions, as required by law.Mier admitted that from June 1995 through March 1998, he participated in a scheme to demand and accept bribe and protection money from the proceeds of the video gambling business of Boardwalk Amusements. Mier also admitted that from 1995 through 2000, he participated in another scheme to deposit cash in amounts under $10,000 into accounts under the control of another, from 1995 through 2000.
Specifically, Mier admitted entering into an agreement with Abreu and Oriente in around 1995 to collect money from the owner of Boardwalk Amusements in return for police protection of an illegal gambling business conducted by Boardwalk Amusements. Mier also admitted that he arranged a meeting between Abreu and Oriente, the latter of whom was collecting approximately $2,000 per week from the owner of Boardwalk Amusements for police protection of Boardwalk's illegal gambling activity.
Mier admitted that, during the meeting in June 1995, Abreu informed Oriente that Oriente was going to have to give the $2,000 per week to Abreu. Mier further admitted that Oriente agreed to give the $2,000 per week to Abreu in exchange for Abreu using his influence with a high-level West New York public official to ensure that Oriente would not be replaced as the chief of police and would receive a salary raise.
Mier also admitted that Oriente delivered the weekly payments to him and then took the payments to Abreu's office, where he typically left the cash in Abreu's desk drawer. For his part, Mier admitted taking between $200 and $400 each week as a cut for assisting in the extortion scheme.
Pursuant to his plea agreement, Mier additionally admitted to assisting Abreu with structuring cash deposits into bank accounts under Abreu's control, enabling Abreu to avoid the filing of currency transaction report.Under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Judge Greenaway will determine Mier's actual sentence based on a formula that takes into account the severity and characteristics of the offense and Mier's criminal history, if any.
Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Under Sentencing Guidelines, defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.
Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Louie F. Allen; and Special Agents of the IRS Criminal Investigation section in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Anne D. Fahy, for their work in developing the case.
The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ortiz, Chief of the Government Fraud Unit in Newark, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Goldklang of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
Defense Counsel: Joseph Rotella, Esq., Newark.