Rafael Román Martel

A West New York Department of Public Works employee pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark today to extorting more than $30,000 from town vendors.

In a plea deal, 44-year-old Tommaso Calautti of New Milford admitted taking corrupt payments from three city vendors and agreed to help federal agents in further investigations.

Calautti worked as a project coordinator and engineer in the DPW but West New York Town Attorney Daniel Horgan said today that he resigned on April 1 after the town gave him a notice of disciplinary action with an option of resigning not in good standing. He had worked for West New York for a decade.

Calautti appeared on the verge of tears after pleading guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Stanley Chesler, as did several family members seated behind him in the courtroom.

Calautti admitted taking $10,000 in cash payments from a contractor to ensure he was awarded bids to do sidewalk and paver repairs in the town.

He further admitted accepted $1,000 to expedite payment of an invoice of approximately $29,000 owed to a lawyer, who was also an architect, for construction work done for the town.

Finally, Calautti accepted about $24,000 in cash from another contractor seeking to obtain the town’s yearly maintenance and sidewalks contract.

In all, Calautti said, he took corrupt payments in excess of $30,000 but not more than $70,000.

The names of the contractors were not released.