Rivera came to national attention on September 6, 2007, when he was indicted and arrested on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for agreeing to direct municipal contracts to an insurance broker[2] acting as a cooperating witness.
[3] Rivera pleaded guilty to attempted extortion, stepped down as mayor,[4] and was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
[7] There, his law enforcement career ended when he was convicted of a felony and sentenced to either two or three years probation[1] for offenses including admittedly[8] slashing himself to simulate having been attacked in order to protect his partner, who killed a narcotics suspect.
[3] Rivera was indicted for demanding and accepting money from John D'Angelo,[2] an insurance broker acting as a cooperating witness for the FBI.
[11] After appearing in front of a magistrate in Trenton and posting bail, Rivera resumed his duties the following day, Friday, September 7.
[12] State law permits elected officials to retain their offices even after they are convicted and sentenced; they can only be removed if they are formally impeached.