Former Newark Police Officer Indicted For Conspiracy To Defraud Newark Conservation And Development Corporation

NEWARK, N.J. – A former Newark police officer was indicted by a federal grand jury today for allegedly conspiring to defraud the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation (NWCDC) and giving kickbacks to its former executive director, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Janell Robinson, 42, of Newark, is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the NWCDC facilitated by use of mails and wire transmissions, two counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right affecting interstate commerce.

According to documents filed in this case:

Between March 2010 and May 2013, while Robinson was a Newark police officer, she controlled Protected and Secured Services LLC (P&S), a company that purported to provide security-consulting services to its only client, the NWCDC.

Between March 2010 and May 2013, Robinson allegedly conspired with Brashear to pay Brashear a stream of concealed and undisclosed kickbacks from the proceeds that P&S received from the NWCDC. In exchange for Brashear’s assistance with securing P&S a contract with the NWCDC and approving fraudulent and inflated invoices that Robinson submitted, Robinson paid Brashear approximately $3,000 each time P&S received payment from the NWCDC.

In total, the NWCDC paid P&S approximately $289,000 during the scheme, some of which Robinson used to pay Brashear as kickbacks.   

The wire and mail fraud conspiracy, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right charges each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of the approximately $289,000 in ill-gotten gains obtained from the scheme. 

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, and IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie F. Schwartz and Jacques S. Pierre of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division.

The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense counsel: Cynthia H. Hardaway Esq.