A Newark code enforcement officer threatened to shut down a city business unless she received cash bribes and free merchandise, according to authorities.
Sonia Rogers, 50, of Newark, was charged Friday with official misconduct, bribery, theft by extortion and soliciting or accepting any benefit to influence the performance of an official duty, the state Office of the Attorney General said Monday.
Rogers, who was hired in 2022, has been suspended without pay, a Newark spokeswoman said.
Rogers entered the store on Broad Street in uniform in September, conducted an inspection and ordered the business closed, authorities said.
She then told the owners to pay her $800 or the store would have to remain shut because its business license expired, authorities said.
Rogers also said the business would have to pass a fire inspection to get its license reinstated, authorities said.
Rogers returned to the business several times through November, telling the owners she needed to be compensated to make the fire inspection happen, authorities said.
After first asking for cash in exchange for not imposing fines, Rogers told the owners she could be paid with merchandise, including a television, authorities said.
She was not provided a television, authorities said.
Rogers didn’t have an attorney listed Monday.
Stories by Jeff Goldman
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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.