Co-conspirators in Tony Mack Corruption Case Sentenced to Prison Time

Two Mercer County men were sentenced to time in state prison for conspiring with the former Mayor of Trenton and others to extort bribes and kickbacks in connection with a Trenton parking garage project, and for unrelated drug charges, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced on Friday.

Joseph Giorgianni, a/k/a “Jo Jo,” 65, of Ewing Township, was sentenced to six years, six months after previously pleading guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiring with former Trenton Mayor Tony F. Mack, 48 and his brother, Ralphiel Mack, 41, both of Trenton, Charles Hall, 51, of Trenton, and others in an extortion scheme.

He pleaded guilty to obstructing interstate commerce by extorting individuals under color of official right in connection with the development of an automated parking garage.

Giorgianni also pleaded guilty to one count of extorting individuals under color of official right in connection with the administration of a power washing contract, as well as charges contained in a separate indictment.

These charges included one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon.

Hall was sentenced to four years after previously pleading guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to obstruct interstate commerce by extorting individuals under color of official right. Hall also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.

They were each also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release.

The mayor, his brother, Giorgianni and Hall conspired to accept about $54,000 and planning to accept another $65,000 from cooperating witnesses, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

In exchange for the payments, Tony Mack assisted them in their efforts to acquire a city-owned lot on East State Street to develop an automated parking garage.

The scheme included a plan for the city of Trenton to sell the lot for far less than one of the cooperating witnesses was willing to pay – diverting $100,000 of the suggested purchase amount as a bribe and kickback payment to Giorgianni and Tony Mack.

The mayor authorized and directed a Trenton official responsible for disposition of city-owned land to offer the East State Street lot to one of the witnesses for $100,000, significantly less than the amount originally proposed, so the rest could be taken as a bribe.

The defendants went to great lengths to conceal their corrupt activity and keep Tony Mack “safe” from law enforcement.

For example, Giorgianni and Ralphiel Mack acted as intermediaries, or “buffers,” who accepted cash payments for Tony Mack’s benefit.

To conceal the corrupt arrangement, the defendants avoided discussing matters related to the scheme over the telephone.

When those matters were discussed, they used code words and aliases, including “Uncle Remus,” which both Giorgianni and Hall regularly used to communicate to Tony Mack that a corrupt payment had been received.

The defendants also concealed their activities by holding meetings concerning the corrupt activity away from Trenton City Hall, including a restaurant maintained by Giorgianni known as JoJo’s Steakhouse.

In addition to the parking garage bribe and extortion payments, Giorgianni and Hall admitted their involvement in a narcotics distribution conspiracy with Mary Manfredo, 67, of Lawrenceville, and others from May 2011 to July 2012.

Hall said he obtained, in coordination with Giorgianni, 13 prescriptions for oxycodone-based pain medication from a doctor in Nutley, which included a total of 1,560 pills.

JoJo’s Steakhouse served as a front where oxycodone pills and drug proceeds were received and distributed.

Also, on July 18, 2012, Giorgianni, a convicted felon, was found in possession of four guns, including three pistols and a pump-action shotgun.

Tony F. Mack and Raphiel Mack, both convicted following a five-week trial in February 2014, were sentenced to serve 58 months in prison and 30 months in prison, respectively.

Manfredo pleaded guilty to conspiring with Giorgianni, Hall and others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. Manfredo awaits sentencing.

Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Trenton Resident Agency, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, for the investigation.