Trenton Mayor Tony Mack convicted of corruption

The mayor of New Jersey’s capital city has been convicted of bribery, fraud and extortion.

Trenton Mayor Tony Mack was found guilty of corruption for his part in a scheme to take thousands of dollars to help facilitate a parking garage development in the city.

Mack, a Democrat elected in 2010, was convicted of official extortion conspiracy, attempted extortion, accepting bribes and theft of honest services. His brother Ralphiel Mack was convicted on the extortion and bribery counts but acquitted of wire and mail fraud charges.

The brothers were arrested two years ago on charges related to the garage development, which turned out to be an FBI sting operation. Two others implicated in the plot previously pleaded guilty.

As the verdict was announced late Friday afternoon, Tony Mack stood without displaying emotion and left the federal court building without comment.

State Senate President Steve Sweeney said it was a “sad day for the people of Trenton.”

“With the city tackling so many difficult issues, they could not afford to have their trust violated by their elected leader,” Sweeney said in a statement. “Democrats and Republicans throughout New Jersey must come together to aid the City of Trenton. Its residents deserve nothing less.”

Mack’s attorney, Mark Davis, said did not want to talk about the outcome, saying it was a case he worked on for a year and lost. He would not say whether he plans to file an appeal.

Sentencing is set for May 14.

Mack has remained in office since his arrest more than two years ago.

Should Mack, a Democrat, refuse to step down as mayor of the impoverished city, he may be forced to do so. The city council will appoint an interim mayor until a previously scheduled May mayoral election.

The jury deliberated for one full day before reaching its verdict.

Since 2000, mayors of Newark, Camden, Paterson, Perth Amboy, Hoboken, Passaic, Asbury Park, Orange and Hamilton have been convicted or pleaded guilty in corruption cases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.