Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) have announced that Omid Bayati, a former employee of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC), has pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a PVSC Commissioner for career advancement. The plea was entered on January 13, 2025, before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Christopher R. Kazlau at the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack.

Bayati, aged 43 from Hillsdale, New Jersey, admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit official misconduct. Under the plea agreement terms, the State will recommend a five-year state prison sentence. Additionally, Bayati will be required to forfeit any public employment positions he holds and face a lifetime ban from public employment. He must also surrender money seized during the investigation that he gave to a PVSC Commissioner for personal gain.

Attorney General Platkin commented on the case: “Mr. Bayati’s brazen attempt to influence his supervisor using money has earned him a felony conviction instead.” Drew Skinner, Executive Director of OPIA, added: “Illegal attempts to influence public officials will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The complaint filed in 2021 revealed that while employed at PVSC—a Newark-based State agency—Bayati attempted an improper payment of $1,200 to a commissioner with hopes of securing preferential treatment and placement in a higher pay range than qualified for his position and experience level.

Bayati initially tried providing this payment via check from an account named "PVSC PAC," unrelated to PVSC. This check was left at a restaurant in Fair Lawn, New Jersey with "donation" written on its memo line. The commissioner reported this conduct leading law enforcement into action.

Further into the investigation, Bayati handed over an envelope containing $1,200 cash at a pub in Fair Lawn while requesting salary adjustments and broader promotion opportunities within PVSC and politics.

Bayati's employment with PVSC ended on January 14, 2021; he was indicted by a state grand jury on June 30 of that year. 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' supervision alongside OPIA Executive Director Skinner.

Defense attorneys representing Bayati are Kenneth Ralph Esq., and John J. Bruno Jr., Esq., both based in Rutherford, New Jersey.