Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) have announced that a Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) employee has admitted guilt in an attempt to improperly influence a PVSC Commissioner for career advancement.

Omid Bayati, aged 43 from Hillsdale, New Jersey, entered a guilty plea on January 13, 2025. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit official misconduct during a hearing before Judge Christopher R. Kazlau at the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack.

The plea agreement suggests that Bayati will receive a five-year state prison sentence. Additionally, he must resign from his position as an operations worker at PVSC, face a lifetime ban from public employment, and forfeit money seized during the investigation which he offered to a PVSC Commissioner for personal gain.

“Mr. Bayati’s brazen attempt to influence his supervisor using money has earned him a felony conviction instead,” stated Attorney General Platkin. “Trying to illegally influence a government official in New Jersey doesn’t pay.”

Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA, commented: “Illegal attempts to influence public officials will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Mr. Bayati now faces a recommended five-year prison sentence for attempting to orchestrate an illegal scheme to pay off his boss for favorable treatment.”

According to court documents and the initial complaint filed in 2021, while employed at PVSC—a Newark-based State agency—Bayati attempted an improper payment of $1,200 to sway a commissioner into granting him preferential treatment. This included placing him in a higher pay range than warranted by his position and experience.

Bayati initially tried delivering this payment via check from an account named "PVSC PAC," unrelated to PVSC. The check was left at a Fair Lawn restaurant with "donation" written on its memo line.

The commissioner reported this conduct through proper channels leading it to law enforcement authorities.

As investigations proceeded, Bayati handed over $1,200 cash in an envelope at another Fair Lawn location requesting salary increases and broader promotion opportunities within PVSC and politics.

Bayati was indicted by the state grand jury on June 30, 2021. His sentencing is set for March 21, 2025.

The case was investigated by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption North Unit and prosecuted by Deputy Chief Frank L. Valdinoto under Bureau Co-Director Jeffrey J. Manis's supervision along with OPIA Executive Director Skinner.