Wayne Bryant, imprisoned for N.J. corruption, indicted on unrelated federal fraud charges

Former New Jersey Sen. Wayne Bryant, who is serving a four-year prison sentence for political corruption, was indicted Monday on federal charges in an unrelated case that stretches from the Meadowlands to the Cramer Hill section of Camden.

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York filed an indictment in federal court in Newark charging Bryant and attorney Eric D. Wisler, formerly a managing partner at the politically connected Bergen County law firm now known as DeCotiis, FitzPatrick & Cole, with multiple counts of fraud and bribery.

The indictment alleges that Wisler arranged for his firm to enter into a retainer agreement that paid Bryant's firm $8,000 a month. From August 2004 to August 2006, the indictment charged, Bryant's firm was paid about $192,000 in fees, allegedly for work relating to development in the Meadowlands.

Officials allege no legal work was done in exchange for the money, which was actually a bribe in exchange for Bryant's support of various redevelopment projects undertaken by Wisler and his clients, including the controversial proposed redevelopment of the Cramer Hill section of Camden.

Bryant, a Lawnside Democrat who once served as the chairman of the powerful Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, was convicted in connection with accepting a low-show job at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey while helping to secure $11 million in state funding for the school. He was also convicted of padding his pension with credits he earned through the Gloucester County Board of Social Services.

Gov. Christie, who was U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time of Bryant's first indictment, called his actions "disgusting behavior."

The latest indictment charges that Bryant consistently voted for legislation that helped Wisler's clients. Federal investigators describe a state senator who sponsored legislation and killed legislation based on his own personal financial interest and in direct opposition to the desires of his constituents.

According to the indictment, both Wisler and Bryant deliberately hid the existence of the retainer agreement from others, with Bryant, for example, failing to inform Camden's chief operating officer of its existence.

The indictment also cites the 2002 state takeover of Camden, which Bryant orchestrated, as an example of how he allegedly used his position as a state senator and political power broker to push through development projects.

Bryant cosponsored the bill to have the state take over Camden in exchange for $175 million in state money, and then he served as a nonvoting member on the newly established Camden Economic Recovery Board that doled out the funds.

While Bryant sat on the board, it approved $659,145 for a streetscape project in Cramer Hill that would have benefited the developer, Cherokee Investment Partners, and $3.5 million to pay for rental units for those displaced by eminent domain, the indictment said.

In addition, the indictment said, Bryant's friend and longtime associate Melvin R. "Randy" Primas was named the city's chief operating officer. Primas had broad powers over redevelopment in the city, and at Bryant's sentencing last year he spoke before the court on Bryant's behalf.

The indictment said Primas, whom it identified only as "chief operating officer," did not know Bryant had a financial arrangement with Wisler.

Bryant also gave special treatment, according to federal officials, to another controversial development proposal: a plan to put hotels, homes, and a golf course on Petty's Island in the Pennsauken part of the Delaware River.

Here, despite opposition from some New Jersey officials and environmentalists who wanted to accept an offer from the island's owner to turn it into a nature preserve, Wisler asked Bryant to support local and state laws that would move the development ahead, according to letters cited by investigators.

The indictment alleges Bryant consistently voted for legislation that provided hundreds of millions of dollars in state loans for the EnCap project at the Meadowlands.

Bryant and Wisler are both charged with 20 counts of honest-services mail fraud and one count of receiving bribes. Bryant is charged with extorting payments under color of official right. Wisler is charged with 17 counts of mail and wire fraud for false billings to his client.

Bryant's attorney, Carl Poplar, did not return a call for comment.

Wisler's attorney, Michael Critchley, said his client "vehemently denies the allegations" in the indictment. Critchley said Wisler "never solicited, received, or expected to receive any inappropriate consideration from Wayne Bryant in his role as a public official."

Critchley said Wisler has been undergoing surgery and chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs.

"While dealing with his serious illness and the resulting physical complications, Eric will strive to the best of his physical ability to prove his innocence and maintain his impeccable reputation for honesty and integrity both in his personal and professional life," Critchley said.

Kerrie Campbell, counsel to the DeCotiis law firm, said the firm is fully cooperating with the U.S. attorney in the investigation. Campbell noted there were no allegations against the firm.

The case is being supervised by the corruption unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Paul Fishman, recused himself. Assistant U.S. Attorneys for New Jersey, however, will be handling the prosecution.

According to published reports, Fishman represented the developers of the EnCap project while in private practice.