Court: Ex-N.J. School Board Member Took Bribes from Insurance Brokerage

Former Pleasantville, N.J. Board of Education member James T. McCormick has been convicted on federal bribery charges.

A federal jury on Wednesday found that McCormick accepted a $3,500 bribe from an insurance brokerage for helping to steer public contracts to the company.

He was arrested in September 2007 along with 10 other public officials and one private citizen. The arrests resulted from a public corruption investigation that snared officials in both southern and northern New Jersey.

McCormick was found guilty of conspiracy, attempted extortion, bribery, violating the federal Travel Act and two counts of money laundering.