Former Aide to Newark Mayor Gets Prison Term

A former aide to Newark Mayor Cory Booker has been sentenced for a conspiracy conviction.

Former deputy mayor Ron Salahuddin was ordered Monday to serve a year and a day in prison.

He was convicted last year of conspiracy to commit extortion but cleared of other counts. Authorities say Salahuddin used his position to steer demolition contracts illegally to a wrecking company, which would subcontract some work to a firm with financial ties to him.

Booker testified at Salahuddin's trial, saying he did not know about a business relationship between his aide and the subcontractor.

During the sentencing hearing held in U.S. District Court in Trenton, Salahuddin told the court he did nothing wrong.

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