Linda Watkins-Brashear was targeted for mismanagement and corruption last year in a scathing report by the state comptroller's office.
The former director of the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp., pleaded guilty Monday to soliciting nearly $1 million in bribes from businesses in return for overinflated and no-work contracts.
Linda Watkins-Brashear, who presided over the non-profit agency as it slid to dissolution amid charges of corruption and mismanagement, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and filing a false income tax return in Newark federal court before U.S. District Judge Jose Linares.
Watkins-Brashear, who led the agency that kept the tap water flowing for half a million northern New Jersey water customers from 2007-2013, faces up to 23 years in jail and $350,000 in fines in pleading guilty. She also must forfeit the $999,000 that was kicked back to her.
A former consultant who was hired by Watkins-Brashear, Donald Bernard Sr., was charged last year in the kickback scheme.
A 2014 state comptroller's report slammed Watkins-Brashear for enriching herself and giving more than $1 million in contracts to her friends and ex-husband.
In court Monday, she admitted to demanding bribes from contractors providing printing, marketing, cleaning, roofing, security, interior design services, political and media consulting services. She also acknowledged issuing unearned bonuses to an employee and then demanding about half of it back for herself.
In return, the contractors received inflated contracts and in some cases, they did not perform any work.
In admitting to the single false tax return count, Watkins-Brashear admitted underreporting her income by $316,000.
"Today, Linda Watkins-Brashear fully, completely and unequivocally has accepted 100 percent responsibility for her actions," said her attorney, Michael Baldassare.
The roofing contractor, Giacomo "Jack' DeRosa, was charged in a six-count indictment last year for his role in the kickback scheme, according to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman's office.
RELATED: Watershed director took Newark for millions, comptroller says
The comptroller's report chided the administration of Cory Booker, then the mayor of Newark, for failing to monitor the dealings of the agency, which had grown into the de facto manager of Newark's entire water and sewer department. Booker is now a U.S. Senator.
After a political battle over the agency, it was legally dissolved in 2013. About a year ago, the reconstituted board of directors filed for bankruptcy in a move in part to recover funds that had been allegedly looted from the agency.
Booker is among a group of 18 executives, employees, contractors, accountants and trustees to be named as defendants in a lawsuit alleging that they failed provide proper oversight of the agency.
Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
