Eleven public officials and one private citizen from across New Jersey were arrested Thursday in a federal corruption probe.

Among those arrested were Democratic Assemblyman and Orange Mayor Mims Hackett Jr. and Passaic Mayor Sammy Rivera. State Assemblyman Reverend Alfred Steele, of Paterson, and the chief of staff for Newark Council President Mildred Crump were also arrested.

A law enforcement official said Passaic Councilman Jonathan Soto and Councilman Marcellus Jackson, along with five Pleasantville school board members, were arrested.

The officials were arrested after an 18-month undercover investigation. The office of U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said the defendants are charged with demanding and taking bribes to influence the awarding of public contracts.

The FBI set up a fake insurance brokerage company to investigate members of the Pleasantville school board, but investigators said the probe widened to public officials in northern New Jersey.

All 12 will be released on $200,000 bail. They all face extortion charges and if convicted, could get up to 20 years behind bars, plus fines.

AP wires contributed to this report.

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