Trenton Mayor Tony Mack
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Trenton, NJ, Mayor Tony Mack is under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to a NJ.com article headlined “FBI probe of Trenton Mayor Tony Mack includes searches of houses of his brother, campaign supporter”,the FBI executed a nighttime search warrant on Mack’s home beginning at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17. Most search warrants are daytime search warrants (typically “daytime” means between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.), however nighttime search warrants can be specially authorized if the issuing judge deems it necessary for the safety of law enforcement and the people involved or if there is a reasonable belief that evidence sought may be destroyed if the search were limited to daytime.
Mack had been the target of an unsuccessful recall effort by Trenton voters, and four members of the Trenton City Council expressed “no confidence” in him. He has also been named in a civil lawsuit in which the plaintiff, a fired former city employee, alleges in her written complaint that:
- She was ordered by a city department head who invoked the authority of Mayor Mack and ordered her to provide HUD Community Development Block Grant money to a local athlete who was a friend of Mayor Mack but who had not submitted any of the required applications for that federal money.
- She was ordered by the Mayor to divert grant money into operational funds in order to fund a fund a concert being promoted by the Mayor.
- When she refused to divert grant money to fund the concert, she was then ordered to illegally divert city boat ramp maintenance fees to fund the concert instead.
- One of the Mayor’s confidants, Bishop Vaughan, was supposedly hired by the City as a Mayor’s Aide at an annual salary of approximately $39,999.96, but Vaughan was never required to show up for work or complete required paperwork documenting work hours.
So far, no arrests have been made nor charges filed against Mayor Mack.
Trenton is the capital of New Jersey and has a population of approximately 84,900 people.
Well I’ll be…………. I guess this could happen anywhere.
Comment by Ancientemplar — July 20, 2012 @ 7:06 am
Yes, it could, and yes, it does.
This article headlined Cases underscore challenges Idaho authorities face with white-collar crimes posted July 17, 2012, at IdahoStatesman.com help explain why the feds are sometimes invited in to conduct the investigation. When local law enforcement and prosecutors realize they don’t have the ability to properly conduct an investigation and properly prosecute it under state statutes, they will often invite the feds in. The feds’ participation after such an invitation will not be automatic. It will come after discussion with the US Attorney’s Office for that district.
Comment by Bill — July 20, 2012 @ 7:53 am