By: Richard L. Smith
A former Newark city councilman and a development consultant have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a bribery, kickback, and tax fraud scheme tied to real estate projects in Newark, federal authorities announced.
Joseph A. McCallum Jr., 70, a former member of the Newark Municipal Council and board member of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, was sentenced on December 2, 2025, to 18 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.
Malik Frederick, 65, a former consultant for developers seeking deals in Newark, received a 25-month prison sentence on December 4, 2025, also followed by one year of supervised release.
According to prosecutors, the scheme ran from 2017 through early 2020 and involved Frederick paying concealed bribes and kickbacks to McCallum in exchange for official assistance on development, construction, and real estate matters in Newark.
The payments were funded by developers and businesses seeking contracts, approvals, or access to city-controlled projects.
Both men admitted to filing false personal tax returns related to income from the scheme.
McCallum pleaded guilty to wire fraud and a false tax return for 2018, while Frederick pleaded guilty to participating in the wire fraud conspiracy and filing a false tax return for 2017.
The case was announced by Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello.
Federal officials said the investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Authorities said the case underscores ongoing efforts to address public corruption and hold officials and consultants accountable for abusing their positions for personal gain.