Two Charged in Alleged Bribery Scheme Tied to Union Township Business Dispute

Defendants falsely claimed to represent a township official and sought over $10,000 in bribes to resolve a business owner’s legal troubles.

The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office announced criminal charges Thursday against two individuals accused of soliciting a bribe from a Union Township business owner while falsely claiming the money was intended for a local official.

Steven Carr, 54, of Staten Island, NY, and Whitney DaSilva, 38, of Kearny, NJ, have been charged with second-degree Bribery and Conspiracy, with Carr also facing a third-degree charge of Theft by Deception. The charges stem from an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity & Accountability (OPIA).

“As alleged, these defendants tried to get a business owner to pay a bribe. Instead, the owner did the right thing and reported it to law enforcement,” said Attorney General Platkin. “As evidenced by these charges, my office takes such allegations seriously, and we call upon other members of the public to come forward when they learn of potentially improper influence over, or bribery of, government actors.”

“As the charges in this case show, bribery schemes don’t pay,” said Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA. “They will only earn you a criminal case.”

According to the complaint, between February and May 2024, Carr told a Union Township business owner—who was engaged in administrative proceedings with the municipality—that he had a personal relationship with a township official. Carr allegedly claimed that if the business owner paid more than $10,000, he could deliver the payment to the official and help resolve the legal matters.

Investigators say DaSilva, knowing of the scheme, introduced the business owner to Carr and supported efforts to collect the bribe. She allegedly offered to transfer the money and encouraged the business owner to proceed with the payment.

However, the investigation found no evidence that the township official was involved or aware of the scheme. Prosecutors allege Carr misrepresented both the bribe amount and its legitimacy, making false claims about the official’s involvement to obtain the money.

Second-degree crimes in New Jersey are punishable by five to ten years in state prison and fines of up to $150,000, while third-degree offenses carry potential penalties of three to five years and up to $15,000 in fines.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Diana Bibb and Brian O’Loughlin under the supervision of the OPIA Corruption Bureau and its leadership team.

The Attorney General’s Office emphasized that these are only allegations and that both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.