Keith Reid, who served as the Chief of Staff to Newark City Council President Mildred Crump until his arrest in October, was indicted today on charges that he took $13,500 in cash bribes to steer an insurance contract to an undercover FBI company. The Indictment also accuses Reid of conspiring with an Irvington Township official — identified only as Irvington Official 1 in the Indictment.
According to the Indictment, Reid was recorded complaining that he had not been paid by the company in several months. At the conclusion of a July 25, 2007 meeting, Reid allegedly accepted a $5,000 cash payment. Reid stated during the meeting: “I want you to be clear on something,” he said. “This is not a hustle … I got an initial payment in February. But since February, I have not gotten one red cent … You’re doing the hustle. You’re doing the dance. I can make things happen within my sphere to a certain point because I’m council president’s chief of staff. Full plate. And I have the kind of boss who’s very reliant on me and staff.”