By: Richard L. Smith
A New York real estate developer has admitted to bribing City of Newark employees to obtain permits, certificates of occupancy and help clearing violations at properties he owned, federal authorities announced.
Menashe Davidovitz, 31, of Airmont, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to four federal charges, including conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit bribery involving a federally funded local government.
According to federal prosecutors, between June and November 2024, Davidovitz conspired with others to provide Newark city employees with cash and other benefits in exchange for favorable official action involving his properties.
Authorities said the bribes were paid to secure permits and certificates, including certificates of occupancy required before properties could be occupied or sold. Prosecutors said Davidovitz also paid local officials to assist him in resolving violations connected to his properties.
The case also revealed a separate scheme involving the unauthorized sale of cards identifying buyers as relatives of a federal law enforcement officer.
Federal authorities said that between October 2021 and January 2023, Davidovitz worked with co-conspirators, including former U.S. Air Marshal Jonathan Ledesma, to sell “Law Enforcement Family Member” cards.
The cards identified their bearers as family members of Ledesma, described on the cards as a federal officer. Authorities said the cards displayed what appeared to be Department of Homeland Security insignia and included a QR code linked to Ledesma’s cellphone.
Davidovitz was not authorized to sell DHS insignia or imitations of the insignia, according to prosecutors. He received approximately $30,000 from sales of the cards.
Ledesma previously pleaded guilty in July 2024 to making false statements and selling official insignia without authorization. He was sentenced in December 2024 to three years of probation.
Davidovitz faces significant federal prison exposure. The honest services fraud conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while the bribery conspiracy and false-seal conspiracy charges each carry maximum penalties of five years.
The official-insignia conspiracy carries a maximum of six months.
Davidovitz is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2027.