Businessman Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty to seven counts in connection with the alleged corruption probe, including conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services fraud, obstruction of justice, and more charges linked to New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez.
Menendez, a Democrat, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, have been accused of taking bribes of gold bars, a luxury car, and cash in exchange for using his outsized sway in foreign affairs to help the government of Egypt and other countries, along with other corrupt acts, as cited by an indictment that came down in September 2023.
Uribe is a New Jersey businessman in the trucking and insurance business who was previously friends with fellow defendant Wael Hana, who is also linked to the conspiracy, according to an indictment.
The co-defendant is being accused of buying the luxury car for Nadine after her previous car was totaled when she struck and killed a man crossing the street. She did not face criminal charges related to that crash.
Allegedly, Uribe gave the Mercedes to Menendez and his wife as he sought help with a criminal investigation into his associates being run out of the New Jersey State Attorney General’s office. In exchange for the favor, Menendez is accused of calling then-New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal directly about the matter.
Uribe has agreed to cooperate with the prosecution looking into the allegations against Sen. Menendez and will testify against him in the case.
In his hearing before a judge on Friday, Uribe admitted to giving the car to Nadine “in return for Senator Menendez using his power and influence… to get a favorable outcome and to stop all investigations related to one of my associates.”
Additionally, he admitted that the car was given as part of an effort to stop a different investigation “into another person who I considered to be a member of my family.” Uribe said he tried to conceal the payments he made on the luxury vehicle “because I knew it was wrong. I knew that giving a car in return for influencing a United States Senator to stop a criminal investigation was wrong, and I deeply regret my actions.”
According to a plea agreement, Uribe could face up to 95 years in prison, though he could be afforded leniency as he is cooperating and testifying against the other defendants, and has also agreed to return $246,000 in proceeds from his crimes.
