Ex-Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Employee Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charge

Defendant admitted to offering money in exchange for preferential treatment and promotional opportunities.

A former Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) employee pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025, to conspiracy to commit official misconduct after allegedly attempting to pay off a PVSC commissioner in a bid to advance his career. According to Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), 43-year-old Omid Bayati, of Hillsdale, faces up to five years in state prison under the plea agreement.

Guilty Plea and Potential Sentence

During the hearing before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Christopher R. Kazlau at the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack, Bayati acknowledged guilt to one count of conspiracy to commit official misconduct (2nd degree). Under the agreement, state prosecutors will recommend five years in prison; Bayati must also forfeit any current public employment, face a lifetime ban on future public employment, and surrender money seized during the investigation.

“Mr. Bayati’s brazen attempt to influence his supervisor using money has earned him a felony conviction instead,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Trying to illegally influence a government official in New Jersey doesn’t pay.”

“Illegal attempts to influence public officials will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA. “Mr. Bayati now faces a recommended five-year prison sentence for attempting to orchestrate an illegal scheme to pay off his boss for favorable treatment.”

Alleged Corrupt Payments

According to court documents:

• While employed at the PVSC in Newark, Bayati attempted to give a $1,200 payment to a PVSC commissioner.
• Bayati’s goal, according to the investigation, was to influence the commissioner “to give him preferential treatment, including placing the defendant in a higher pay range than he was qualified for based on his position and experience level.”
• Initially, Bayati allegedly tried to deliver a check from an account named “PVSC PAC,” left at a Fair Lawn restaurant with “donation” written on the memo line.

The commissioner reported the conduct to superiors, who notified law enforcement.

Second Attempt at Payment

As the investigation continued:

“The defendant gave the commissioner an envelope filled with $1,200 in cash at a pub in Fair Lawn, and asked him to ‘push [his] salary a little bit,’ among other, broader promotion requests.”

Bayati also “was seeking help in procuring promotional opportunities within the PVSC and in politics.”

Termination and Indictment

The PVSC terminated Bayati’s employment on January 14, 2021. A state grand jury indicted him on June 30, 2021. Sentencing is set for March 21, 2025.

Investigation and Prosecution

The case was investigated by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption North Unit. Deputy Chief Frank L. Valdinoto of the OPIA Corruption Bureau prosecuted the matter, under the supervision of Bureau Co-Director Jeffrey J. Manis and OPIA Executive Director Skinner.

Officials emphasize that New Jersey remains committed to rooting out public corruption and holding accountable those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain.