Edward Cheatam

Edward Cheatam is the affirmative action officer for Hudson County and a Jersey City Housing Authority commissioner. Until May 2009 he was vice president of the Jersey City Board of Education.

On July 23, 2009, Cheatam was charged by the FBI with conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and attempted extortion. He allegedly accepted $15,000 from a purported developer (“CW”) in exchange for “exerting official influence” on projects CW was pursuing, including a proposed tile contract with the Board of Education. Cheatam also allegedly introduced CW to other officials who would be willing to similarly assist his projects.

Some of the money Cheatam allegedly accepted was to have been turned over to the reelection campaign of an unnamed Jersey City official revealed to be Mayor Jerramiah Healy (“Official 4″). (You can read the criminal complaint against him here.)

Cheatam was suspended from his county position on July 23, 2009 in light of the criminal allegations. On Aug. 4, 2009, he resigned his position as a Jersey City Housing Authority commissioner. He was indicted on Aug. 20, and pleaded not guilty on Sept. 1 before pleading guilty on Sept. 18. In his plea, Cheatam says he took $70,000 and funneled $15,000 to the re-election campaign of Mayor Jerramiah Healy. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a potential $250,000 fine; he will be sentenced on Dec. 22, 2009.

READ JCI STORIES ON CHEATAM

Cheatam News


  • The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

  • SECAUCUS BRIEFS
    The Hudson Reporter
    ... Solomon Dwek – a cooperating witness with the government who was posing as a residential real estate developer – and Edward Cheatam, who was an affirmative action officer for Hudson County and a commissioner of the Jersey City Housing Authority.

    and more »