Passaic recreation director arrested

PASSAIC, N.J. (AP) -- Authorities in northern New Jersey say a longtime recreation director has been charged with extorting sports teams who wanted to join city leagues.

The Passaic County prosecutor's office says 54-year-old Eriberto Carrero was arrested Friday and charged with extortion, theft and official misconduct.

Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes says Carrero wielded his position as the director of Passaic's recreation department over a nine-year period to demand additional unauthorized money from teams that wanted to join city leagues, and from parents of children seeking to participate on the city's soccer team.

It is not immediately known if Carrero had retained an attorney.

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