Elizabeth police officer is charged with extorting money from undocumented immigrants (The Star-Ledger)

Elizabeth police officer is charged with extorting money from undocumented immigrants
Published: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 1:07 PM
Updated: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 3:07 PM
Ryan Hutchins/The Star-Ledger By Ryan Hutchins/The Star-Ledger

An Elizabeth police officer was arrested this morning on charges he extorted undocumented immigrants, telling the victims he’d turn them in to the federal government unless they paid him a bribe, authorities said.

Rocco Malgieri, a 43-year-old Brick man with 19 years on the force, faces six counts that include a charge of participating in a pattern of official misconduct, as well as others alleging theft by extortion and bribery, Union County Prosecutor Theodore Romankow said this afternoon.

He turned himself in this morning, arriving with his attorney, Donald DiGioia, the prosecutor said. He was immediately suspended, without pay, from his job at the city police department, he said.

He has been under investigation for several weeks. His alleged crimes started in February, the prosecutor said.

Malgieri was released after posting a $20,000 property bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 30.

Detectives are still probing the case, and ask anyone with more information to call Sgt. Edward Koenig at (908) 527-4914.