NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A former Newark code enforcement worker who solicited and accepted a $1,000 bribe from a man who wanted to open a nightclub is now headed to state prison.
Qaadir Royal received a three-year sentence Monday.
The 37-year-old Newark resident was a clerk in the code enforcement office and had access to city databases. He took the bribe to change the building’s certificate of occupancy in December 2016 to allow a social club.
Royal had pleaded guilty to tampering with public records.
Another code enforcement worker, Tajji Williams of Newark, faces bribery and official misconduct charges stemming from an unrelated case involving the same club owner.
Authorities say Williams solicited a $5,000 bribe in 2016 and received three payments totaling $1,500 in exchange for promising to alert the club owner about police action in the area and prioritizing his building permits.
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