Ex-Newark Cop Admits To Taking Bribes From Brothel Owners

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — A former Newark police officer who lives in Old Bridge was sentenced Wednesday to 46 months in prison for being paid off by a Newark brothel owner in exchange for protecting brothels from police action, said Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig.

The former police officer is Julio Rivera, 52, of Old Bridge.

He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of bribery and filing a false personal federal tax return in 2015, where he failed to disclose the bribes.

Federal agents say that from September 2014 to August 2015, Rivera solicited and accepted cash payments from a man who ran two different brothels on Lafayette Street and Emmet Street in Newark.

In total, Rivera collected between $40,000 and $95,000 in bribes from him and other brothels in Newark.

In exchange for the cash bribes, Rivera declined to arrest individuals who were committing and promoting prostitution, agreeing to protect them from arrest and even agreed to take adverse police action against a competing brothel, said the FBI.

When he is released from prison, he must do 1,000 hours of community service and was ordered to pay restitution of $17,408 and forfeiture of $79,941.

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