Despite a district court imprecisely using the terms plea and plea agreement during a hearing, the Third Circuit upheld a such a deal Friday from a cop who accepted guilt for bribery and tax evasion.
In 2018, former Newark, N.J., police officer Julio Rivera pleaded guilty in New Jersey District Court to a count of accepting corrupt payment from brothels, and a count of preparing false tax returns related to the $78K in bribes. He later contended that because Judge Madeline Arleo “conditionally” accepted the plea contingent on a informational review, he could withdraw it, which he tried to do ...