Hamilton Mayor To Resign After Conviction

The mayor of Hamilton is expected to resign Wednesday, one day after he was convicted of extortion and money laundering.

A federal jury deliberated for about four and a half hours before finding Mayor John Bencivengo guilty Tuesday on those counts as well as attempted extortion and two bribery-related counts.

Township business administrator John Ricci tells The Times of Trenton the mayor decided stepping down from the $108,000-a-year job was the best thing to do.

The mayor was accused of accepting $12,400 in bribes from a health insurance broker. She testified she made payments to Bencivengo in exchange for his influence in ensuring she maintained her contract with the school district.

Bencivengo's attorney claimed the payments were loans.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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