High court rejects appeal from former New Jersey official

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court won’t hear an appeal from a former Newark, New Jersey, official convicted of conspiracy to commit extortion.

The justices on Monday let stand a ruling by a federal appeals court that upheld the 2011 conviction of former deputy mayor Ron Salahuddin.

Salahuddin was accused of using his position to illegally steer demolition contracts to the owner of a wrecking company in which he had a financial stake. He was sentenced to a year in prison.

Salahuddin argued that he could not be convicted of conspiracy because there was no proof he obtained any benefits in the scheme.