Indictment alleges bribes paid by firm’s founder

The founding member of a major New Jersey civil engineering company was indicted Dec. 14, accused of paying bribes to former Ocean Township Mayor Terrence Weldon and another former official to gain favor and influence in securing and maintaining contracts for the engineering firm, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced in Newark.

Howard M. Schoor, 67, is charged in the indictment with conspiracy to defraud the public of the honest services of officials of Ocean Township, Monmouth County, and the Township of Ocean Sewerage Authority (TOSA).

The charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney.

The indictment alleges that Schoor, a founding member of Schoor DePalma Engineers and Consultants, Manalapan, paid a total of $16,000 in cash in bribes to Weldon and former TOSA Chairman Stephen D. Kessler between about 1998 and 2001, while the engineering firm was seeking to get and maintain large contracts with TOSA.

The engineering firm itself has cooperated in the government’s investigation and is not accused of wrongdoing, according to the press release.

Over the past three decades, Schoor DePalma has been hired by many New Jersey municipalities and authorities to perform engineering work. The firm regularly represents private developers who appear before local planning and zoning boards seeking approval for various projects.

According to the U.S. Attorney, by letter to the firm on Aug. 5, 2005, Schoor submitted his resignation, saying that in his 30-year professional representation with the firm of Ocean Township and TOSA, he had never engaged in any wrongdoing himself or on behalf of the engineering firm.

According to the indictment, however, Schoor made cash payments totaling $16,000 to Weldon and to Kessler. Schoor also allegedly gave Kessler, on several occasions, free use of Schoor’s condominium in Boca Raton, Fla. The largest of the cash payments, three for $5,000 each — were made directly to Kessler to be shared with Weldon, according to the indictment.

The alleged corrupt payments were specifically as follows:

• In about 2000, Schoor gave Kessler $5,000;

• In about May 2001, in Freehold, Schoor gave Kessler $5,000;

• Between about Nov. 12 and Nov. 16, 2001, in Atlantic City, Schoor gave Kessler $5,000.

• Between about 1998 and 1999, one additional cash payment for $1,000 was made by Schoor directly to Weldon at a golf course in Jackson.

Throughout the relevant period described in the indictment, Schoor was designated the official engineer for the township of Ocean and TOSA, and sought business with both entities, according to the press release. Among the business received was the engineering firm’s work in connection with between $4 million and $7.8 million in capital improvements for TOSA, in which the engineering firm estimated it would receive approximately $600,000 to $850,000 in fees.

According to the indictment, it was Schoor’s intention in making the concealed corrupt payments and other benefits to influence and reward Kessler and Weldon for their continued official support of the engineering firm as specific opportunities arose.

Among those opportunities, according to the indictment, was Kessler’s official action in connection with the engineering firm obtaining the TOSA engineering contract for the 2000 to 2001 capital improvement plan.

Schoor is represented by attorney Justin P. Walder, of the firm Walder, Hayden and Brogan, of Roseland.

Walder provided the following statement to Greater Media Newspapers on Dec. 15: “The Township of Ocean Sewerage Authority, in February 2001, selected Schoor DePalma for its capital improvement program based on its history of providing quality and professional engineering services in excess of 20 years to TOSA. No improper conduct influenced this decision. This project was successfully completed by Schoor DePalma consistent with the highest professional standards.

“Howard Schoor has not been active in Schoor DePalma since 1992. The true facts will vindicate Howard Schoor and refute the false allegations that impugn the integrity of the honest and hard working people affiliated with the sewerage authority,” Walder said.

The indictment also alleges several acts of concealment by Schoor of the corrupt payments and benefits, including, among others, giving payments in cash to avoid an audit trail.

Following a public disclosure that Weldon had received corrupt payments, Schoor wrote a letter to the township of Ocean and certain of its officials in which he attempted to conceal his own corrupt activity, according to the press release. In the letter, he wrote in part, according to the indictment: “… The undersigned and [the engineering firm] appreciates our long-term relationship, and you are assured that former Mayor Weldon, or anyone else in the township, has never asked us to provide favorable treatment or to give special consideration to any person or any project within the township.”

In a statement posted on its Internet Web site, the company said, “Schoor DePalma cooperated fully with the government during the 18-month investigation which preceded the recent charges against Howard Schoor. The company has not been charged and is not a target

of the investigation. In fact, the official statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that ‘The engineering firm itself has cooperated in the government’s investigation and is not accused of any wrongdoing.’

“In 1992, Howard Schoor resigned as chairman and chief executive officer in order to pursue business interests outside of the company. Howard Schoor’s involvement at the company has been limited since that time, and he formally retired in 2005.

“The company is committed to conducting business with integrity and professionalism, as is evidenced by our Quality First initiative — the first of its kind in New Jersey, and one of the only ones in the nation.

“The company, Schoor DePalma, has a long, successful history of service and is proud of its record in performing quality, professional work. Today, the firm employs over 1,100 people across 25 offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Florida and Arizona. The firm consistently has been ranked among the top engineering firms in the nation and has received countless awards and commendations from industry leaders and prominent trade associations, both in New Jersey and nationally.”