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Mahmud Hammad, 36, admitted that he met last July and August with a person who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent who claimed to “have access to authorities at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office,” U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.
The agent recorded Hammad paying $1,500 as “good faith” money toward a $10,000 reward to have the criminal case dismissed, Fishman said.
Hammad was snagged on drug and weapons possession charges a year ago May, during a Woodland Park Police “Click It or Ticket” checkpoint aimed at catching people not wearing their seatbelts.
While asking for credentials, an officer smelled marijuana inside Hammad’s 2008 Infiniti SUV, police said at the time.
They said they found some pot, along with a can of pepper spray marked “For Law Enforcement Only,” two hypodermic needles, and bottles of bottles of steroids and Oxycodone.
Scheduling in the payoff case is set for Oct. 7 in U.S. District Court in Newark.
Fishman credited the FBI with making the case, which is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Llanes of his Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
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