NEWARK – A former housing inspector for the City of Paterson pleaded guilty today to a one-count Information charging him with accepting and agreeing to accept bribes for performing housing inspections and other official assistance, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Lee Holland, 61, of Paterson, was a housing inspector for the City of Paterson when he took $600 in cash from a local property manager who was in fact cooperating with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General in a corruption investigation. Holland was initially arrested and charged in March. He remains free on $25,000 bond pending sentencing on Oct. 25.

Holland admitted before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares that he met with the property manager on multiple occasions and, in January 2006, negotiated a fee of $200 per week in exchange for performing prompt housing inspections and for providing other official assistance as the need arose.

Holland admitted that he accepted $200 on Jan. 27 and $400 on Feb. 15. Holland admitted that he also agreed to contact the property manager if Holland learned of any problems or complaints with the manager’s properties.

The charge to which Holland pleaded guilty, soliciting and accepting cash bribes in exchange for official action or influence, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI’s Garret Mountain Resident Agency in West Paterson, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun; and Special Agents from HUD OIG, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Rene Febles, with the investigation that resulted in today’s guilty plea.

Christie also credited Assistant U.S. Attorney Hope Olds of the Office’s Special Prosecutions Division, who is prosecuting this case.

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Defense Counsel:
Roy B. Greenman, Esq., Union