(AP) - The influential chairman of the BergenCounty Democratic Organization and a party lawyer have beenindicted on federal corruption charges.

U.S. Attorney Chris Christie announced the indictments of partychairman Joseph Ferriero and lawyer Dennis Oury on Tuesday. The eight-count indictment charges them with conspiring todefraud the Borough of Bergenfield and using the mails to furthertheir scheme.

The federal investigation focused on their dealings as partnersin a consulting firm that did business with a number of localgovernments in northern New Jersey.

Federal agents raided the offices of the firm, Government GrantsConsulting, last month, carting out boxes of documents. Ferriero took a leave of absence as party chairman last week,citing legal difficulties.