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Mayor of Trenton, including associates, arrested by FBI in corruption investigation

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
September 11th, 2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack's tenure has been wracked by disputes and inner turmoil ever since he took office. Now, the 46-year-old Mack along with more than half a dozen other people have been arrested in connection with an ongoing corruption probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "The investigation revealed evidence of a conspiracy among these defendants and others to corrupt certain functions of Trenton City government in favor of purported developer seeking to build a parking garage on city-owned property in exchange for cash payments totaling approximately $119,000," according to the complaint filed in federal court.

Mack faces federal charges including conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion. Among the others arrested, Joseph "JoJo" Giorgianni, a top campaign contributor have been taken into custody. Mack faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on extortion charges.

Giorgianni declared in recorded conversations that "I can be bought," "We want this," "I like to do it the Boss Tweed way, you know, Boss Tweed ran Tammany Hall," and "Tony knows when I'm in for a penny I'm in for a pound," according to the criminal complaint. Giorgianni referred to Mack using the code name "Napoleon."

Mack and the others have been brought to the FBI office in Hamilton for processing and are scheduled to appear in federal court.

The federal investigation began in 2010 into alleged corruption within Mack's administration. The troubled reign of Mack has been marked with accusations of nepotism and reckless spending. FBI agents searched offices in Trenton City Hall a day after raiding the mayor's home in July. The home of his brother, Ralphiel Mack, and that of Giorgianni were also searched.

Tony and Ralphiel Mack along with Giorgianni have been charged with conspiracy in connection with a parking garage project. Cash payments allegedly intended for Mayor Mack were made by a cooperating witness to Giorgianni inside his restaurant.

In the second complaint, Giorgianni and eight others, not including the Macks, were charged with conspiracy to obtain and fill prescriptions for oxycodone-based pain medications.

A housecleaning of staff at City Hall opened the door for Mack's own appointees, who have come and gone with regularity. Some have left over questions about their credentials and others have faced criminal charges.

Mack ran through a string of business administrators in his first year as the Mayor of Trenton. The first resigned after a month, saying the mayor didn't believe in "good government," while yet another resigned just ahead of pleading guilty to embezzlement at another job.

Additionally, Mack's housing director resigned after it emerged that he had a theft conviction. Mack's chief of staff was arrested trying to buy heroin, while his half-brother, whose authority he elevated at the city water plant, was arrested on charges of stealing.

How Mack financed his campaign for mayor has also been called into question.

© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

Article brought to you by: Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)