FBI Arrests Trenton Mayor, Others in Corruption Probe

Federal authorities arrested Trenton, N.J., Mayor Tony Mack and more than half a dozen other people early Monday in connection with an ongoing corruption probe, NBC 4 New York has learned.

Mack faces federal charges including conspiracy to obstruct commerce by extortion. Joseph "JoJo" Giorgianni, a top campaign contributor, and six others were also taken into custody. Information on their attorneys wasn't immediately available. Specific charges against the suspects are expected to be outlined by Paul Fishman, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, later Monday.

Mack and the others arrested Monday were brought to the FBI office in Hamilton for processing and are scheduled to appear in federal court.

The arrests are the latest development in an ongoing federal investigation into alleged corruption within Mack's administration, which has been marked by accusations of nepotism and reckless spending. In July, FBI agents searched offices in Trenton City Hall a day after raiding the mayor's home. They also searched the home of his brother, Ralpiel Mack, and that of Giorgianni.

Mack's administration has been in turmoil from Day 1, staggering from one crisis to another. A housecleaning of staff at City Hall opened the door for Mack's own appointees, who quickly turned it into a revolving door. Some left over questions about their credentials, others to face criminal charges.

In Mack's first year in office in Trenton, a city of 85,000, he ran through a string of business administrators. The first resigned after a month, saying the mayor didn't believe in "good government." Another resigned just ahead of pleading guilty to embezzlement at another job.

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

Oregon City Dumps Mayor for Not Showing Up for Work

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: August 20, 2011 at 7:12 PM ET

SODAVILLE, Ore. (AP) — A small city in Oregon has kicked out its mayor for not showing up to work.

The Albany Democrat-Herald reports that Sodaville replaced 35-year-old Brady Harrington with the city council's president.

The newspaper says Harrington missed council meetings in June and July, along with skipping three budget meetings.

The new mayor, Nick Heineck, says Harrington was occupied as a firefighter and student, but would not commit to returning to meetings when council members reached him by phone this week.

Harrington declined to resign. He was elected to his second term as mayor in November.

Elected Officials' Arrests Shock Quiet Border Town

by John Burnett

 Earlier this month, federal agents busted a suspected gunrunning ring that allegedly includes the mayor, police chief and a city councilman of Columbus, N.M. The government alleges the officials used the power and privileges of office to buy weapons destined for a Mexican drug cartel.

Up until now, the most notorious crime in the history of Columbus was the infamous raid by Pancho Villa on the U.S. garrison here in 1916. That was before March 10 of this year.

Federal agents swooped down on this remote border outpost and arrested Mayor Eddie Espinoza, Police Chief Angelo Vega, village trustee Blas Gutierrez and seven others. They've all been indicted for conspiracy to smuggle guns and making false statements to obtain firearms.

"If you read the indictment, there's damning evidence there," Lt. Robert Odom of the Luna County Sheriff's Department says. "It would point to the fact that our village was being run by a criminal cartel."