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Did you think Tony Soprano had the exclusive on bribery and corruption? Guess again. Hoboken and Seacaucus mayors, two NJ state assemblymen, five rabbis (thrown in for good measure) and a bunch of others were arrested today as part of a two-year FBI corruption and international money laundering investigation.

My home state of New Jersey may have a reputation for Mafia capital of the U.S.A. HBO's Sopranos cemented this distinction and buried it beneath the Meadowlands along with the remains of Jimmy Hoffa. However, Tony and gang have nothing on the real politicos and Kosher crew from the Jersey shore and points beyond.

Apparently, the whole mess began with bank fraud charges against a member of the Syrian Jewish community in Deal, New Jersey, a very tight group known to purchase million dollar homes with a suitcase of cash. Seems the guy turned federal informant, posing as a shady real estate developer, serving up bribes to government officials. Hey, I grew up in New Jersey. Some things never change.

The acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey commented, "For these defendants, corruption was a way of life."

This cast of characters is taken away in cuffs. Charged with money laundering and bribery. Decades ago, my mother witnessed our mayor being thrown into the back of a van. Convinced he was being kidnapped, she later found out he was under investigation for similar crimes. The politico connection doesn't surprise me. However, I am always a bit shocked to find a posse of Rabbis thrown into the mix.

Five rabbis, including the national leader of the Syrian Jewish community in the U.S. have been charged with laundering over $3 million. In a separate investigation, key rabbis from the tight knit and wealthy Syrian communities in New Jersey and Brooklyn were also charged with laundering tens of millions of dollars through their religious organizations for a fee.

One Brooklyn man, Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, was charged with conspiring to broker the sale of a human kidney for transplant for a $160,000 commission.

The arrests for public corruption and money laundering underscore "the pervasive nature of corruption in this state," Marra said.

While these scandals may further sully my home state's reputation, I see a new series for HBO.