2003-07-25 -- Lisa, Gerard -- Guilty Plea -- News Release

Accountant Admits Making Corrupt Payments to Janiszewski Through Intermediary

NEWARK - A Hoboken accountant pleaded guilty today to making corrupt payments to former Hudson County Executive Robert C. Janiszewski, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Gerard Lisa, 46, of Hasbrouck Heights, pleaded guilty to a one-count Information before U.S. District Judge Harold A. Ackerman.

When he is sentenced by Judge Ackerman, Lisa faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Clark. No sentencing date was set.

Lisa, the owner and operator of a Hoboken-based accounting firm, Lisa & Associates, admitted that each year from 1997 through 2001, he made corrupt payments in order to secure the renewal of his firm's auditing contract with Hudson County. Lisa admitted that he made the payments to then-Hudson County Executive Janiszewski through an intermediary. The intermediary was not named but was described in court documents as "a long-time associate of Robert C. Janiszewski."

Each year, Lisa made cash payments to the intermediary, who passed a portion of the cash to Janiszewski. Court documents indicate that as part of his cooperation with a federal corruption probe in 2000 and 2001, Janiszewski audiotaped and videotaped meetings with Lisa and the intermediary, at which Lisa's corrupt payments were discussed.

The intermediary passed Janiszewski cash payments and indicated that they were from Lisa by stating in two instances detailed in the charges, "Mr. Lisa sends his regards" and "Lisa says hello." The intermediary informed Janiszewski in a recorded conversation in December 2000 that Lisa would pay a total of $30,000 to Janiszewski and the intermediary - to be split part in cash and part in political contributions at the direction of Janiszewski and the intermediary. According to the Information, the intermediary told Janiszewski that he preferred a split of $15,000 in cash and $15,000 in political contributions over a split of $10,000 in cash and $20,000 in political contributions.

According to the Information, out of $16,000 in corrupt cash payments that Lisa made to the intermediary in early 2001, the intermediary passed on to Janiszewski $4,150.

Under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Judge Ackerman will determine Lisa's actual sentence based on a formula that takes into account the severity and characteristics of the offense and Lisa's criminal history, if any, Christie said.

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 Newark in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Louie F. Allen and Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations section, under the direction of Special Agent in Anne D. Fahy, for their work in developing the case.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey D. Clark, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney's Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.

Defense Attorney: Paul B. Brickfield, Esq. River Edge