Former N.J. councilman convicted of bribery dies in state custody

A former Bloomfield councilman, who pleaded guilty to a bribery charge in 2017, died while serving his sentence, according to state prison records.

Elias Chalet, 58, died at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton Monday, Peter Till, his attorney, said. He was sentenced to five years in prison in 2018, but would have been eligible to be released in July.

“He died alone,” Till said Tuesday.

Till said Chalet’s family was “devastated” and declined to comment on Chalet’s death. Till said the family believes Chalet’s death was a result of COVID-19. They are awaiting medical confirmation.

Chalet was a local realtor and the Ward 1 councilman for the township when authorities arrested him at his Broad Street office in 2015. Investigators had recorded audio of Chalet telling a local business owner that the township would only purchase his property if he paid Chalet $15,000.

Read more: https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/former-nj-councilman-convicted-of-bribery-dies-of-coronavirus-in-state-custody-lawyer-says.html