The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested 44 individuals earlier today after a massive investigation of bribery and money-laundering in New Jersey led to raids of synagogues and offices, according to the Newark Star Ledger.

Three New Jersey mayors, including Peter Cammarano III of Hoboken; Dennis Elwell of Secaucus; and Daniel Van Pelt of Ocean Township were taken into custody, along with Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini.

Other assembly members and public officials were also arrested in the raid, as were five rabbis from New York and New Jersey synagogues.

In a briefing made after the arrests, the FBI explained that the investigation led to the discovery of a “high volume, international money-laundering conspiracy” involving the 44 individuals

The Rabbis are accused of using their religious positions and organizations to launder millions of dollars for the public officials, as well as kidney trafficking and laundering profits from selling fake designer purses.

According to the Associated Press, one man implicated in the probes was alleged to have attempted to sell a kidney for $160,000 dollars after purchasing it for only $10,000.

Witnesses for the FBI posing as real estate developers offered money to the charged officials in order to gain real estate permits and approvals to build property on prime property.

Ocean Township Mayor Van Pelt allegedly accepted $10,000 dollars cash from one of the federal witnesses.

Recent elections have brought the issue of over-development to the city’s attention.

The three-year investigation has led to separate corruption and laundering charges, but it is noted by the FBI that the crimes are connected by the same individuals.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra briefed the media on the case, stating that “the politicians willingly put themselves up for sale,” simply adding that “corruption was a way of life for” the mayors and rabbis.

Originally launched to unveil the laundering scheme, the probe branched out to encompass the wide-reaching public corruption implications.

The Newark Star Ledger reports that the arrested mayors and Jersey City Council President Mariano Vega are all Democrats except for Van Pelt, who is a Republican.

Federal officers loaded the alleged criminals on buses and took them to the FBI’s Newark Field office. They are currently appearing in a New Jersey courtroom.

Cammarano’s attorney Joseph Hayden defended his client saying that he “is innocent of these charges,” and that, according to CNN, Hayden “intends to fight them with all his strength until he proves his innocence.”

New Jersey’s Governor Jon Corzine issued a statement, picked up by CNN, following the raids, saying that “Any corruption is unacceptable – anywhere, anytime, by anybody. The scale of corruption we’re seeing as this unfolds is simply outrageous and cannot be tolerated.”

Our Take:

Since I live in Chicago, corruption seems to an unfortunate but routine aspect of my city’s government. However, with three New Jersey Mayors being arrested, maybe they can slide into the role of America’s most corrupt city.

Then again, Blago still has a criminal trial to be held, so I shouldn’t hold out much hope.

What are your initial reactions to this corruption scandal? Sounds like a season of “The Wire,” no?