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At his plea hearing, Saccomanno admitted that he solicited and accepted cash payments
from officials representing Building Inspection Underwriters, Inc. (“BIU”), a private
third-party inspection service headquartered in Pennsylvania with offices in New Jersey.
Saccomanno admitted that in 2007 and 2008, while he served as director of the
Department of Code Enforcement and Inspections for Cherry Hill, BIU held a contract
with the municipality to provide electrical, plumbing and elevator inspection services.
Furthermore, Saccomanno stated that as director, he held a high-level decision-making
role in Cherry Hill’s process for selecting third-party inspectors like BIU. 

Specifically, Saccomanno admitted that he accepted a secret cash payment of
approximately $2,500 on Sept. 20, 2007, from a representative of BIU while at an Italian
restaurant in Cherry Hill. Saccomanno accepted the corrupt payment in exchange for his
recommendation of a 2008 extension of BIU’s inspection contract with Cherry Hill.
Saccomanno also admitted taking a corrupt cash payment of $2,000 in July 2008 from
Russell B. McLaughlin, Jr., 56, of Chalfont, Pa., until recently the president of BIU, to
influence the 2009 contract renewal. 

Furthermore, Saccomanno admitted that on Nov. 27, 2007, he caused a contract extension
letter to be sent through the U.S. mail from Cherry Hill Township to BIU stating that
Cherry Hill wished to exercise its renewal of the electrical, plumbing and elevator
inspection services contract with BIU. That letter was subsequently signed by a
representative of BIU and returned, causing the contract to be extended.
McLaughlin pleaded guilty before Judge Bumb on April 22, 2009, to a one-count
Information that charged him with bribery. Judge Bumb continued McLaughlin’s release
on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Aug. 10. 

At his plea hearing, McLaughlin admitted that as president of BIU, he personally gave a
$5,000 cash corrupt payment to Saccomanno on Dec. 9, 2008, in return for his official
action in aid of BIU’s attempt to obtain an Inspection Services Contract with Cherry Hill.
 
The charge to which Saccomanno pleaded guilty carries a maximum statutory penalty of
20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

category crime