Sonia Rogers, 50, of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested on Friday, February 28, 2025, by OPIA detectives with assistance from members of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Rogers was charged with the following second-degree offenses: official misconduct, bribery, theft by extortion, and soliciting or accepting any benefit to influence the performance of an official duty.
The charges arise from an investigation by the OPIA Corruption Bureau. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
According to the complaint, while working in her official capacity, Rogers ordered the closure of a retail establishment, threatened to fine the owners, and requested bribes of cash and free store merchandise in exchange for reopening the store and not levying the threatened fines.
Specifically, the investigation found that in September 2024, Rogers entered a store on Broad Street in Newark in uniform and, after conducting an inspection, she ordered the business to be closed.
It is alleged that the defendant told store management that the store’s municipal business license had expired, and if she were to allow the store to re-open to the public, she should be compensated with a cash bribe for doing the business a favor. The evidence revealed that Rogers asked for a bribe of $800, telling a store employee to take care of her since, under the city’s code enforcement regulations, the store should remain closed until a fire inspection was completed and the business license was reinstated.
As alleged in the complaint, in exchange for re-opening the store and not imposing any fines, Rogers initially solicited the bribe in cash, but she settled for taking store merchandise without paying.
Additionally, Rogers allegedly indicated she would help facilitate a fire inspection of the premises in exchange for the store compensating her. According to the investigation, Rogers kept returning to the store on multiple subsequent occasions through November 2024, attempting to be further compensated, including unsuccessful attempts to take a television.
“My office will not take it lightly when public employees allegedly abuse the power of their positions for personal gain,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The public must be able to trust that those who serve the public will not look the other way in exchange for bribes.”
“The defendant’s trying to line her own pockets, instead of ensuring public health and safety, as alleged here, damages the public’s trust in government and could put lives at risk,” said Drew Skinner, Executive Director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “This case shows that corruption is not a victimless crime, and the dedicated, experienced prosecutors and investigators in my office will not back down in fighting it.”
Deputy Attorney General Diana Bibb is prosecuting the case for OPIA, under the supervision of Corruption Bureau Deputy Chief Laura Croce, Bureau Co-Directors Jeff Manis and Eric Gibson, and OPIA Director Skinner.
These charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Defense counsel:
Defendant is not represented at this time
The city of Newark, New Jersey was rocked by scandal this week as a code enforcement officer was charged with soliciting bribes from local businesses. Attorney General Andrew Platkin announced the charges on Tuesday, revealing that the officer had been caught in a sting operation conducted by the state’s Division of Criminal Justice.
The officer, whose name has not been released to the public, allegedly demanded cash payments from business owners in exchange for overlooking violations of city codes and regulations. This type of corruption not only undermines the integrity of the code enforcement process, but also puts honest businesses at a disadvantage.
Platkin emphasized that his office takes these allegations very seriously and will prosecute the case to the fullest extent of the law. He urged anyone who may have been approached by the officer to come forward and assist in the investigation.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government. Code enforcement officers play a crucial role in ensuring that businesses comply with regulations designed to protect public safety and welfare. When individuals in positions of authority abuse their power for personal gain, it erodes public trust and undermines the effectiveness of the entire system.
The city of Newark has already taken steps to address this issue, including implementing stricter oversight measures for code enforcement officers and conducting regular audits of their activities. Mayor Ras Baraka has also pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
In the meantime, business owners in Newark are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior or requests for bribes to the appropriate authorities. By working together to root out corruption and uphold ethical standards, we can ensure a level playing field for all businesses and promote a culture of integrity in our community.
