Former State DOT Engineer Admits Accepting Bribes

Federal prosecutors say a former New Jersey Department of Transportation engineer has admitted accepting a $24,000 bribe from a contractor who wanted help with a road construction project.

Kenneth Huber faces up to 10 years in prison when he's sentenced Jan. 17. The 64-year-old Budd Lake resident pleaded guilty Monday to a complaint charging him with soliciting and accepting the bribe.

From 2006 to 2008, Huber was the DOT's engineer for a construction project on Routes 1 and 9 in Bergen and Hudson counties. He helped authorize and approve change orders submitted by the project's contractors.

In 2007, Huber and a contractor agreed that he would be paid for his help with having $300,000 in change orders approved.

Prosecutors say Huber sought the money so he could buy a tractor.