Former Senior Newark Mayoral Aide Pleads Guilty in Bribery Scheme

Al-Tarik Onque admitted to accepting cash bribes in exchange for expediting official city documents for property owners in Newark.

NEWARK, N.J. — A former senior aide to the Mayor of Newark pleaded guilty on Thursday, September 4, 2025, to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud in connection with a bribery scheme involving city-issued property compliance documents, according to an announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba.

Al-Tarik Onque, 49, of East Orange, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court. The charges stem from Onque’s use of his official city position to solicit and accept cash bribes from individuals seeking expedited access to Certificates of Code Compliance (CCCs) and Certificates of Occupancy (COs), which are required under Newark regulations for property use and changes in occupancy.

As a senior aide, Onque was responsible for managing constituent services and liaising with community organizations. Prosecutors stated that Onque leveraged this role to improperly influence the issuance of CCCs and COs by facilitating faster processing in return for illegal payments. Multiple properties in and around Newark were implicated in the bribery scheme, with Onque and unnamed co-conspirators accepting bribes from property owners seeking to bypass standard procedures.

Under Newark’s regulatory framework, a CCC must be obtained from the Department of Engineering’s Office of Inspections and Enforcement before certain changes in property occupancy can occur. Similarly, a CO—or Certificate of Continued Occupancy (CCO)—is required to verify that a property complies with city code requirements prior to being occupied.

The offense of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Onque’s sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2026.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), led by Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francesca Liquori and Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division are representing the government in the case.

The plea agreement marks a significant development in ongoing efforts to address public corruption within municipal governance in New Jersey.