Elizabeth Cop from Brick Charged in Bribery Scheme

An Elizabeth police officer from Brick has been charged with shaking down illegal immigrants for money in exchange for a promise not to turn them into immigration authorities, according to Union County prosecutors.

Rocco Malgieri, 42, a 19-year veteran of the Elizabeth police department, turned himself in to prosecutors Thursday morning. He was accompanied by his attorney, Donald DiGioia. Malgieri was immediately suspended without pay by the Elizabeth Police Department, said Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow.

An investigation showed that, beginning in February 2011 Malgieri would make unwarranted motor vehicle stops of Hispanic men, question them about their residency status and threaten to report them to immigration officials unless they gave him money, said Romankow. The stops occurred while he was on duty.

Currently, according to officials, there are seven victims who have reported that Malgieri solicited payments from them. The payments ranged from $100 to $150, according to the investigation, Romankow said.

Malgieri is charged with second degree theft by extortion, second degree attempted extortion, second degree pattern of official misconduct, third degree official misconduct, third degree bribery and third degree soliciting bribes.

Malgieri was released on a $20,000 property bond and is scheduled for a first court appearance on March 30.

Romankow said the investigation remains active, and asked those with information on the case to contact Sgt. Edward Koenig at 908-527-4914.