Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced that on Thursday, October 29, Barry Smith, of Bayonne, a former Hudson County Roads Inspector pleaded guilty in relation to charges that he initiated and accepted cash bribes.
During the virtual plea hearing, Smith, age 52, pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree Official Misconduct.
According to officials, on May 21, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit, Special Investigations Section in conjunction with the Special Investigations Unit of the Bayonne Police Department, arrested and charged Hudson County roads inspector Barry Smith with bribery, theft by extortion and official misconduct charges following an investigation.
Officials report that Smith was arrested after he asked for and accepted a cash payment to delete any violations he may have issued regarding a construction project in the area of Kennedy Boulevard and 15th Street in Bayonne.
Smith had been charged with Bribery, Theft By Extortion and two counts of Official Misconduct.
The charges against Smith also allege he previously accepted a similar cash payment in December of 2019.