Update: Cammarano Pleads Guilty to Extortion, Conspiracy

Former Mayor Peter Cammarano pled guilty Tuesday afternoon to federal extortion charges as part of a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office.

Cammarano, who will be sentenced on August 3rd at 11 a.m., told U.S. District Judge Jose Linares that he accepted $25,000 in exchange for decisions he would make as the mayor. During his guilty plea, the former mayor said he "willfully" committed a crime to accept money in exchange for future help in Hoboken political matters when he became mayor.

Cammarano also admitted to willfully conspiring to delay and effect interstate commerce by extortion by accepting illicit cash campaign contributions. When the Prosecutor asked him if he willfully and knowingly commited these acts, Cammarano answered "yes."

Friends of Cammarano said last night that the former mayor told them that he would likely receive two years in federal prison as a part of his sentence. U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said today that his office will recommend between 24 and 30 months in prison at the sentencing hearing. Fishman did not say what type of federal prison Cammarano will be sent to.

During his plea today, Cammarano forfeited the $25,000 in illicit cash campaign donations he accepted.

The 32-year old Cammarano entered his plea at 12:56 p.m. today after entering court with his attorney, Joseph Hayden. Dressed in a dark suit and tie, Cammarano remained quiet and somber during the appearence, only answering the required questions and entering his official plea. Hayden, in an interview following the hearing, said that the former mayor expressed remorse over the crimes he committed.

Hayden said that Cammarano plans to work to rebuild his life after he leaves prison. It's still unclear what will happen to Cammarano's law license.

"I expect he will rebuild his life and once again be a positive member of society," Hayden said.

Today's guilty plea serves an official end to what had been one of the most promising political careers in the state. Cammarano burst onto the political scene in 2004 after graduating from Seton Hall Law School as a campaign worker for Sen. John Kerry's political campaign. A protege of Freeholder Maurice Fitzgibbons and election attorney Angelo Genova, Cammarano was elected to an at-large City Council seat in 2005, delaying his honeymoon by three days for the runoff election.

Considered one of the state's leading election attorneys during his private law practice, Cammarano was considered by many in Hudson County politics to be groomed for the mayor's office in the 2009 election. During his tenure on the City Council, he also served on the planning board.

He was elected mayor in 2009, defeating then Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer in the runoff and Councilwoman Beth Mason in the first round. The city's youngest mayor, Cammarano saw his administration come to an abrupt end after three weeks when he was arrested in one of the most sweeping corruption probes in state history. The arrest came a day after Cammarano's 32nd birthday.

Cammarano resigned from the mayoralty a week later, following protests in front of his residence. His administration ended after a month, making him the city's briefest mayor.