Monday, September 10, 2012
The mayor of New Jersey's capital city has been ordered released on $150,000 bond after being arrested on a corruption charge.
But a federal magistrate Monday ruled that Trenton Mayor Tony Mack cannot leave the state while free on bail.
Mack was arrested at his home Monday morning as a result of an FBI sting operation.
Federal prosecutors say Mack agreed to take bribes in exchange for his help in getting a would-be developer city-owned land for a parking garage at a cut-rate price. His brother Ralphiel and convicted sex offender Joseph Giorgianni are also charged in the scheme.
Prosecutors say Giorgianni was the mayor's "bag man" and the purported developer was actually an informant working with the government.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Court papers show the mayor of New Jersey's capital city was caught taking bribes as part of an FBI sting.
Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, his brother, Ralphiel, and supporter Joseph Giorgianni were arrested Monday and charged with conspiring to obstruct, delay and affect interstate commerce by extortion under color of official right.
The criminal complaint against them shows they were approached by a cooperating witness who was working with authorities to get a better deal for criminal charges he was facing.
The witness said he wanted the mayor's support to build a parking garage.
The court papers show he and a second witness, who was paid, provided the Mack brothers and Giorgianni $54,000 and promised another $65,000.
Federal authorities have a news conference on the case scheduled for noon.
