A 7th corruption arrest in the 'Steal Pier' inquiry

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, October, 2007 | by George Anastasia Inquirer Staff Writer

A prominent Atlantic City real estate agent was charged with bribery earlier this week in an ongoing FBI probe of political corruption in the South Jersey resort.

Frank Barbera, a former treasurer for the Atlantic County Republican Party, had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Camden on Tuesday and was released on $100,000 bond, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, which provided details of the arrest yesterday.

Long rumored to be a target of the probe - dubbed "Operation Steal Pier" - Barbera is the seventh defendant charged in the case, which has been built around alleged cash-for-contract schemes.

Barbera, 52, survived what police said was an apparent suicide attempt last month.

His arrest came amid new political turmoil...