FBI arrest Trenton, N.J., mayor on corruption charges

The FBI arrested the mayor of Trenton, N.J., today on corruption charges, The Times of Trenton reports.

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, his brother, Ralphiel, and convicted sex offender Joseph Giorgianni, are accused of conspiring to obstruct, delay and affect interstate commerce by extortion, the Associated Press reports.

Federal prosecutors allege Mack, 46, agreed to use his influence in connection with a proposed parking garage project.

Trenton, with a population of 85,000, is the capital of New Jersey.

Authorities say the defendants received $54,000 and anticipated accepting another $65,000 from a cooperating witness who purported to be a developer, the AP reports.

READ:  The federal complaint

The federal complaint says that Mack, who was elected mayor in 2010, is also known as "Napoleon" and "the Little Guy."

According to the document, which says the FBI investigation began two years ago, Giorgianni is heard in wiretapped conversations as saying, "I can be bought" and "I like money so much, I hate the poor."

Giorgianni is already allegedly recorded saying, "One thing about the Mack administration, when I say that, it's me and Mack, we're not greedy. We're corruptible. We want anybody to make a buck."

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