Maher Khalil
Maher Khalil was deputy director of the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services and a former member of the Jersey City Zoning Board of Adjustment. He had been employed by the city since April 2002.
On July 23, 2009, Khalil was charged by the FBI with conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and attempted extortion. He allegedly accepted $30,000 in cash payments from a purported developer to introduce the developer to “players” who would approve the developer’s projects in exchange for payments. (You can read the criminal complaint against him here.)
Khalil was suspended from his position (salaried at $51,425/year) without pay on July 23, 2009 in light of the criminal allegations.
On Sept. 9, 2009, Khalil pleaded guilty to the charges against him, and fingered City Council president Mariano Vega and Edward Cheatam in doing so. (You can read the plea here.) Khalil was subsequently fired from his city job; he will be sentenced in December 2009.
Khalil News
The Star-Ledger - NJ.comFormer Jersey City Housing Department Employee Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion
7thSpace Interactive (press release)
Guarini also accepted $10000 cash from Dwek that was intended for Maher Khalil, another Jersey City public official. Guarini admitted that instead of passing the $10000 to Khalil, and unbeknownst to Dwek, Guarini kept the $10000 for himself.and more » 
The Star-Ledger - NJ.comJERSEY CITY BRIEFS
The Hudson Reporter
Guarini also admitted that he accepted $10000 in cash from Dwek that was intended for Maher Khalil, another Jersey City public official. Guarini further admitted that instead of passing the $10000 to Khalil he kept the money for himself.and more »
The Jersey Journal - NJ.com
