Jay V. Surgent (born January 31, 1946) is an American criminal defense attorney. He is known for representing high profile, controversial and notorious clients such as Martin Taccetta, the alleged crime boss of the Lucchese crime family New Jersey faction.
Early life and education
Surgent graduated from South Texas College of Law Houston in 1973 and admitted to the New Jersey State Bar Association in 1976.
Career
Surgent is known for his work in the area of white collar criminal defense. In 2004, Surgent represented two murderers and unsuccessfully tried to get first-degree murder charges dropped. In 2014, Surgent represented a Miami-Dade police officer accused of working on behalf of a drug trafficking organization from New Jersey.
In 2015, Surgent represented Martin Taccetta, the alleged boss of the Lucchese crime family New Jersey faction. Surgent suggested that Taccetta had only participated in illegal gambling and money laundering to constitute a racketeering charge. Surgent stated that Taccetta had no role in drug trafficking or violence.
Surgent was selected to the Super Lawyers publication for 2006-2008. In 2022, he successfully negotiated a plea deal representing Albee Al The Gladiator a New Jersey rapper involved in a non-fatal shooting.
Personal life
Surgent is the son of John W. Surgent Sr. an oral surgeon and former mayor of Clifton, New Jersey.