Former Hoboken Assemblyman Carmelo Garcia was sentenced to one year and a day in prison earlier today after pleading guilty to federal bribery charges nearly two years ago.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Garcia, 51, who represented the then-33rd Legislative District in the state Assembly between 2014 and 2016, was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Madelene Cox Arleo at a nearly-hour long hearing this morning, court documents show.
He was also issued a $30,000 fine and will be on supervised released for three years after his time is served, alcohol testing and mental health treatment mandatory, as will be new debt restrictions and financial disclosures.
“Mr. Garcia was sentenced today to 12 months and 1 day. The judge credited his life of good deeds, public service, genuine remorse, and rehabilitation while balancing the need to send a message to officials who violate their oath of office,” criminal defense attorney Robert G. Stahl, who represented Garcia in the matter, told HCV in an email.
“The scores of letters from community leaders, friends, family, co-workers, and religious leaders all extolled Mr. Garcia’s genuine commitment to others through public service, mentorships, community-based projects, and his continued activities to help those less fortunate. With so much support around him, we have no doubt that Mr. Garcia will continue to be a positive force in the community.”
First charged by complaint in November 2020, Garcia admitted to conspiracy to defraud the city of Newark and the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation of Garcia’s honest services, honest services wire fraud, and receiving bribes in connection with the business of a federally funded local government and organization in June 2024.
His sentencing was delayed at least six times after the case received 20 continuances, as only HCV reported.
From 2017 through April 2019, both while serving as Newark deputy mayor and as an executive officer of what is now Invest Newark, Garcia sought and received significant cash and other gifts from Frank Valvano Jr. and Irwin Sablosky – the former board of education president in Springfield – federal prosecutors charged.
Those two, and others, bribed Garcia to use his official positions and influence within the city of Newark and the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC) to advance real estate development matters of interest to Valvano and Sablosky.
Garcia is also a former housing authority executive director for Hoboken and Irvington, with his last run for office being an unsuccessful bid for the Mile Square City’s 6th Ward council seat in 2016.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey confirmed the sentencing on Wednesday evening via a press release and declined to comment further.