South Jersey Leaders Charged In Corruption Probe Linked To Mercer

SOUTH JERSEY — Two South Jersey transportation leaders have been charged after trying to block payments to an engineering firm during a political squabble, officials said.

Christopher Milam and Bryan Bush — both South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) board members — colluded against an engineering firm Milan, the SJTA board's vice chair, is active in Democratic Party politics, the OAG said. In February 2023, he was selected to chair the Democratic Executive Committee for Washington Township.

The Mercer County commissioner defied a South Jersey Democratic Party leader's instructions to remain neutral in the 2023 Democratic primary for county executive, the OAG said. As a result, Milam and Bush voted against compensating the engineering firm for work it had completed.

Milam and Bush — both Sewell residents — were charged with official misconduct (second-degree), conspiracy to commit official misconduct (second-degree) and perjury (third-degree).

Their attorneys did not return Patch's requests for comment, and an SJTA spokesperson declined comment.

John A. Cimino, chair of the Mercer County Board of Commissioners, is chief strategy officer for T&M Associates, a civil-engineering firm. In early 2023, the SJTA board voted multiple times against approving the company's invoices.

The OAG did not identify Cimino by name and didn't disclose the identity of the South Jersey Democratic Party leader who allegedly told him to remain neutral.

Patch contacted Cimino for comment but did not hear back.

Before the SJTA votes, the OAG says that Milam texted Bush, an SJTA board commissioner.

"They cut South Jersey in Mercer County so now we vote no," Milam said via text, according to investigators.

Investigators found that Milam and Bush agreed during private conversations to retaliate against the politician by withholding money from his employer, the OAG said.

Milam and Bush later provided false testimony before a grand jury, the OAG said. Last March, they falsely claimed to have voted against the payments because of purported issues with the engineering firm. But Milam and Bush did not raise any of those alleged issues before their votes, authorities said.

The SJTA coordinates South Jersey's transportation system, including the Atlantic City Expressway, Atlantic City International Airport and transportation projects in the region.

Outgoing Gov. Chris Christie appointed Milam and Bush to the SJTA's board in 2017.

The criminal investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who may have information about this matter can contact the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability at 1-844-OPIA-TIP (1-844-674-2847) and ask to speak to Det. Ryan Vivarelli. Corruption tips can also be reported on the OPIA's corruption form.

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