Trenton Mayor’s Corruption Trial Begins

Federal jurors in Trenton have heard contrasting versions of how Trenton Mayor Tony Mack was arrested on corruption charges.

In opening statements Thursday, the government portrayed Mack as willing to sell a piece of downtown land to developers for less than half its worth in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes.

Mack's attorney contended the government sought to snare Mack in a sting operation and says there's no credible evidence to show Mack took bribes or knew intermediaries used his name to take money.

Mack was arrested in late 2012 and faces extortion, bribery and fraud charges. Mack's brother, Ralphiel, also is on trial.

A third defendant, local sandwich shop owner Joseph Giorgianni, pleaded guilty last month to two extortion-related counts and unrelated drug and weapons charges.

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