Monmouth County developer Moshe G. Gohar was sentenced Oct. 17 to 24 months in federal prison for making a $50,000 corrupt payment to former Ocean Township Mayor Terrance D. Weldon to gain zoning approvals for a development project, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.
U.S. District Judge Joel L. Pisano also fined Gohar $40,000. Gohar would surrender to the federal Bureau of Prisons once a prison assignment is made.
Under the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Gohar faced a probable sentencing range of between 18 and 24 months. Pisano sentenced Gohar at the top of that range, and also imposed the maximum available fine.
Gohar, 57, of Ocean Township, pleaded guilty Dec. 21, 2006, and admitted that he conspired with the late Neptune businessman Philip Konvitz and Weldon to pay Weldon the $50,000 to change zoning that increased the number of homes Gohar could build in the development known as “Apple Farms.” Before the 81-acre property was rezoned, Gohar could build approximately 30 homes; Gohar ultimately was approved to build 75 homes, but the project never materialized after the FBI corruption investigation interrupted its progress.
Gohar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to give and offer corrupt payments. Gohar admitted that he gave the $50,000 in cash to Weldon in the spring or early summer of 2001. He admitted he gave him the money to corruptly influence and reward the then-mayor of Ocean Township for exercising his official influence and changing the zoning and approving the development of Apple Farms.
Weldon pleaded guilty to similar charges on Oct. 10, 2002, before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls. On Aug. 27, Judge Walls sentenced Weldon to 58 months in federal prison.