 The prosecution of state and local political corruption became a " major federal law enforcement priority " in the 1970s . United States v. Addonizio ( 3d Cir . 1971 ) and United States v. Kenny ( 3d Cir . 1972 ) — both brought by U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey , Herbert Jay Stern ( later a federal judge ) — were the first prosecution of political corruption pursuant to the economic fear prong and the " under color of official right " prong of the Hobbs Act , respectively . Henderson describes these cases as the " New Jersey breakthroughs . " 
