Ralph Marra

A suspended detective-sergeant of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department and former Haledon Borough council member pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute cocaine and some heroin he stole from the evidence vault at the Sheriff’s Department, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra, Jr.

Alan Souto, 40, admitted before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares that he received at least $250,000 from the sale of the drugs, which he told the judge was at least 43 kilograms (94.6 pounds) of cocaine and 700 grams of heroin.

Marra said Souto pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information, charging him with conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra, Jr., who took office at 12:01 AM EST today, is now 1-0.

As part of Operation Bid Rig, a former employee of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the first public corruption release issued under the auspices of Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra. 

The feds charged Leroy Robinson, 52, of Maplewood, in March 2008 in a six-count indictment with various money laundering offenses. 

“The guilty plea of Leroy Robinson represents the most recent conviction to arise from Operation Bid Rig, the same investigation which has led to charges against more than 20 officials in Monmouth, Ocean and Somerset Counties, including convictions of the former mayors of Asbury Park, Ocean Township, West Long Branch, Brick Township, Hazlet and Keyport,” said U.S. Attorney spokesman Michael Drewniak.

Ralph Marra, Jr., a career federal prosecutor, will become the Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

Ralph Marra, Jr., a career federal prosecutor who has been with the Department of Justice since 1985, will become Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey at midnight, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office.  U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey approved Christie's recommendation of Marra last week.  Christie will leave office at midnight and is expected to seek the Republican nomination for Governor.

Marra will serve for 210 days -- until June 29, 2009 -- unless a new U.S. Attorney is nominated and confirmed before then.

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U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey will designate an Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Ralph Marra,, Jr., the current First Assistant AUSA, has reportedly been recommended by Chris Christie for the post

Christopher Christie's early exit as federal prosecutor makes it easier for his top assistant, Ralph Marra, Jr., to become the Acting U.S. Attorney while the new President settles on a permanent replacement.  Traditionally, prosecutors sbmit their resignations effective with the change in administrations (January 20, 2009) and the U.S. Attorney General designates the First Assistant as Acting U.S. Attorney.  That person remains in office for four months, with a term that can be extedned by a panel of federal judges, until the President gets around to nominating a new prosecutor -- and until the U.S. Senate votes to confirm the nomination.  Christie didn't become U.S. Attorney until more than a year after George W. Bush took office.

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For Barack Obama, the process will be a bit easier: New Jersey has two Democratic U.S. Senators, and a Senate that is controlled by Democrats.  But appointing Christie's successor is not likely to be the top priority of the new adminisration.  Christie's departure 51 days before Obama takes office allows Michael Mukasey, Bush's Attorney General, to designate the Acting U.S. Attorney -- presumably Marra, a career federal prosecutor and a Democrat with close ties to Christie.   

There's another statewide campaign in New Jersey next winter: the race to succeed Christopher Christie as the United States Attorney - a post that holds considerable power and visibility, and potentially a launching pad for higher public office.   By tradition, federal prosecutors submit their resignations to coincide with the inauguration of a new President. 

If John McCain wins, possible candidate for U.S. Attorney include McCain state campaign director Rick Mroz, a former Chief Counsel to Gov. Christine Todd Whitman; and State Sen. Bill Baroni, the Chairman of McCain's New Jersey campaign.  Mroz runs former Assemblyman/BPU Commissioner Edward Salmon's consulting firm, and is associated with former Cumberland County GOP Chairman Lawrence Pepper's law firm.  Baroni is a Seton Hall University law professor, and has been on Team McCain since 1999, when he worked on the national campaign staff as McCain's advanceman. 

McCain could also go with one of Christie's deputies, like First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra or Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Brown.