Federal investigators have hit former state Sen. Joseph Conigilio with corruption charges stemming from an alleged influence-peddling scheme.

Conigilio turned himself in to federal officials in Newark Thursday. He was indicted on nine counts of mail fraud and extortion. Federal investigators say Conigilio was involved in an influence-peddling scheme he arranged with Hackensack University Medical Center.

Conigilio is accused of taking $5,000 per month in consulting payments from the hospital in exchange for steering $1.1 million from the Legislature to state grants for the medical center.

Federal officials say Conigilio set up a consulting arrangement to perform hospital relations. However, they say the former senator, a retired plumber, had no prior experience in that area.

Conigilio?s bail was set at $250,000.