Former Senior Aide to Newark Mayor Admits Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Fraud

NEWARK, N.J. – A former Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Al-Tarik Onque, 49, of East Orange, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini to an Information charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Onque previously worked as a Senior Aide to the Mayor of Newark.  As a Senior Aide, Onque primarily responded to constituent complaints, performed constituent services, and worked with organizations in the community.

Onque used his official position in the City of Newark to solicit individuals seeking Certificate of Code Compliance (“CCCs”) or Certificate of Occupancy (“COs”) and to offer them expeditated acquisition of those documents in exchange for payments of cash bribes.  Onque and others induced these individuals to pay cash bribes in connection with multiple properties in or around Newark

Under City of Newark regulations, a CCC had to be obtained from the Newark Department of Engineering, Office of Inspections and Enforcement before certain changes of occupancy; and property owners had to obtain a CO, sometimes referred to as a Certificate of Continued Occupancy (a “CCO”) to ensure a building or premises satisfied Newark code requirements.

The charge of conspiracy to commit honest service fraud carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2026.

Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited special agents of Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francesca Liquori and Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division.

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Defense Counsel: Ernesto Cerimele, Esq., Newark, New Jersey