The mayor of New Jersey’s capital was arrested at his home Monday morning on corruption charges linked to bribes for a parking garage project that was all made up as part of an FBI sting operation, reports the Times of Trenton. Mayor Tony Mack and Joseph Giorgianni, a local businessman and supporter who is also a convicted sex offender, were both arrested. Mack’s brother, Ralphiel surrendered to authorities later in the morning.
The 46-year-old mayor is charged with conspiracy to corrupt commerce by extortion, according to CNN. The arrests were the result of an investigation that lasted at least two years and came only months after agents raided the homes of Mack and his brother.
After the FBI raid on his home in July, Mack insisted he was innocent. “We have not violated the public trust in any way,” he said, according to Reuters.
The FBI operation that resulted in Mack’s arrest was similar to the “Bid Rig” sting that resulted in criminal charges against 46 people, many of whom were New Jersey officials, in 2009.
