NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Two Jersey City officials were charged Thursday in the first indictments in connection with last month's corruption sweep that ensnared 44 people.

Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini and Edward Cheatam, a former city housing commissioner, are charged with using their official positions to conspire to extort money from an undercover government witness posing as a developer.

The 74-year-old Beldini and 61-year-old Cheatam were arrested July 23 as part of a lengthy investigation into public corruption and money laundering. Those arrested included three mayors, five rabbis and dozens of appointed and elected officials.

The case centered on a cooperating witness named Solomon Dwek, who provided information to federal authorities after he was arrested in 2006 for bank fraud.

Wearing a wire for the authorities, Dwek posed as a developer looking to launder millions of dollars through his own Syrian Jewish community while reaching out to an array of northern New Jersey officials to offer cash in exchange for development approvals.

Spotted here