Former Jersey City Official Pleads Guilty To Taking Bribes, State Says

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A former Jersey City school board president who last year accepted a plea deal for taking bribes has formally entered a guilty plea, said state officials.

Sudhan Thomas, 50, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in official and political matters (a third-degree crime), said the state Attorney General's Office on Friday.

Thomas took thousands of dollars in cash bribes from a tax attorney who wanted to do business with the public school district, one of the largest in the state, said officials.

He pleaded guilty to accepting $35,000 in cash in two payments between June 2019 and July 2019.

State officials said, "Thomas was stopped immediately after accepting the second $25,000 payment, which was recovered by law enforcement."

Under a plea agreement reached with Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, the state will recommend that Thomas be sentenced to a five-year New Jersey state prison term, while Thomas is permitted to seek a lesser sentence.

Came Out Of State Takeover

Before Thomas' crimes came to light, he was seen as a political "rising star."

Jersey City's school board members have been subject to various accusations and infighting over the years. The district was released from a state takeover in 2022 after a whopping 33 years of state oversight.

The guilty plea was entered Friday during a hearing before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Peter J. Tober in Somerset County.

As part of the plea agreement, Thomas has agreed to forfeit $10,000 in funds illegally received as a result of the crime, and to pay a $30,000 public corruption profiteering penalty.

He will also forfeit all public employment and be subject to permanent disqualification from public office or employment.

He's also barred from doing business with the state or any of its subdivisions for five years.

'Corruption Tax'

Jersey City Councilman James Solomon, who is running for mayor, said in response on Friday, "When we talk about the corruption tax that people in Jersey City pay, this is exactly what we mean. The entire political machine backed Thomas, and I was one of the only leaders willing to stand up to his corruption."

He added, "This is yet another sad example of why we need to turn the page on the political machines that have held Jersey City back."

Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a relase, “This defendant placed personal profit ahead of fulfilling his duties and doing what was best for the people who elected him. This case shows that my office takes fighting public corruption seriously. We will continue to prioritize reassuring taxpayers that their elected representatives are serving the public good."

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 17.

Tax Attorney Helped Nab Other NJ Defendants

Thomas was charged along with several other defendants who allegedly received bribe payments from the same tax attorney, who began cooperating with the state, said state officials Friday.

Those who have been charged included:

• Former Morris County Freeholder John Cesaro of Parsippany
• Former State Assemblyman and former Bayonne mayoral candidate Jason O’Donnell of Bayonne
• Former candidate for Morris County freeholder Mary Dougherty of Morristown, and
• John S. Windish, a former member of the Borough Council of Mount Arlington.

The cases against Cesaro and O’Donnell are pending, the state said, and no guilty pleas have been entered.

In May 2025, Windish pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in official and political matters (a 3rd-degree crime), the state said. Dougherty pleaded guilty in February 2021.