Former Newark code enforcement officer pleads guilty in bribery case

Bribery plea bars former inspector from public employment in New Jersey

A former Newark code enforcement officer admitted in court on June 26 that she solicited bribes from a store owner whose shop she closed after alleged code violations.

Sonia Rogers, 51, of Newark, pleaded guilty in Essex County Superior Court to a third-degree charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced in a news release.

As part of her plea agreement, Rogers will forfeit all public employment and never again hold a government job in New Jersey, Davenport said. She will also be permanently disqualified from holding public office.

In return, prosecutors will recommend at Rogers’ Aug. 14 sentencing that she serve up to 364 days in county jail and a probation term to be determined by the court.

“It is deeply damaging to our communities when public officials prey upon business owners and members of their community in this way, instead of being fair, doing their jobs, and doing what’s right,” Davenport said in a statement. “My office will continue to work diligently to root out public corruption and ensure that those in positions of public trust do their jobs with the utmost integrity.”

Authorities said a uniformed Rogers walked into the unidentified store in September 2024, conducted an inspection, and ordered the business closed because its municipal license had expired.

If the owners wanted to reopen without paying hefty fines, Rogers told them to fork over some cash in return for “doing the business a favor,” the release said.

She walked out with free merchandise, even though the business should have remained closed until officials conducted a fire inspection and the city restored its business license, Davenport said.

Investigators from the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability charged Rogers in February 2025. An Essex County grand jury indicted her in August 2025.

Detectives from the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s corruption bureau led the investigation. Deputy Attorneys General Robert J. Serrano and Samantha Eaton prosecuted the case.