NEWARK, NJ (August 22, 2025) — A Newark city code enforcement officer has been indicted by a state grand jury for allegedly soliciting bribes and extorting a local business in exchange for lifting regulatory penalties and allowing the business to reopen, according to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin.
Sonia Rogers, 50, of Newark, is facing four second-degree criminal charges related to a September 2024 incident. The charges include:
Official Misconduct
Bribery in Official and Political Matters
Theft by Extortion
Acceptance or Receipt of an Unlawful Benefit by a Public Servant for Official Behavior
Each charge carries a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $150,000.
According to investigators, Rogers, while in uniform, conducted an official inspection of a store on Broad Street and ordered it closed due to an expired municipal business license. However, she allegedly offered to “do them a favor” and permit the business to reopen if she received an $800 cash payment.
When the business could not provide the money, Rogers allegedly took store merchandise without paying, in what prosecutors say was an unlawful exchange to avoid penalties and expedite the reopening process.
The state grand jury determined her conduct constituted extortion, citing her use of threats tied to official enforcement action for personal gain.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Diana Bibb and Samantha Eaton of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), with oversight from Deputy Chief Laura Croce, Bureau Co-Directors Jeffrey J. Manis and Eric Gibson, and OPIA Director Drew Skinner.
“This indictment is part of OPIA’s ongoing commitment to combat corruption at every level of government,” said Attorney General Platkin in the announcement.
At this time, no trial date has been set, and Rogers is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The public is encouraged to report suspected misconduct by government officials through the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s reporting channels.
