Jury clears NJ massage therapist of sex assault
TRENTON – A Clementon man has been cleared of charges he sexually assaulted a woman during a massage at a Mercer County spa.
A Superior Court jury in Trenton acquitted Asmar Berry on two counts of sexual assault and three counts of criminal sexual contact, according to court records. Read More
Jury takes 90 minutes to acquit massage therapist accused of sexually assaulting customer
A massage therapist charged with sexual assault at his workplace was acquitted on all charges last week after a trial, his attorney and the county prosecutor confirmed.
Asmar Berry, of Clementon, was accused of sexually assaulting a female customer during a massage at Renewed Spa Massage on Route 31 in Pennington last year. The customer came to authorities and Berry was later charged with second-degree sexual assault and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. Read More
N.J. man accused in GoFundMe scam arraigned on 14 federal charges
The Burlington County man accused of masterminding a sham fundraiser for a once-homeless Philadelphia vet that collected more than $400,000 from well-wishing donors appeared for his arraignment in federal court Thursday.
Mark D’Amico stood before U.S. District Judge Noel Hillman in Camden for a formal acknowledgment of the 16 indictment counts a federal grand jury hit him with earlier this month. With his attorney Mark Davis, he pleaded not guilty to all counts in the indictment. Read More
Former S. Jersey man says he will fight federal charges in GoFundMe scam that raised money for homeless vet
Mark D’Amico, the former South Jersey man federally charged last week on additional offenses in the GoFundMe scam that raised more than $400,000 purportedly to benefit homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt Jr. appeared in federal court in Camden again Thursday, to plead not guilty to a host of fraud and money laundering offenses.
Before the court hearings, as he and his lawyer, Mark Davis, waited in the third-floor hallway, Davis said “we will fight” the charges and go to trial. Read More
Mack attorney: This is a complex case
TRENTON, NJ — The defense attorney for Mayor Tony Mack thinks the federal case against the mayor is so complex and convoluted that it could confuse the jury and work to his advantage.
Mark Davis made the comment after today’s hearing on wiretap admissibility before U.S. Judge Michael Shipp, who is expected to rule the recordings in or out on Thursday.
Live coverage: Defense makes closing arguments in Trenton Mayor Tony Mack’s federal corruption trial
TRENTON, NJ – Following a three and a half hour closing argument by the prosecution Tuesday in the case against Trenton Mayor Tony Mack and his brother Ralphiel, the defense attorneys representing the brothers will have a chance to sum up their cases today.
Mark Davis, attorney for the mayor, will go first, followed by Robert Haney, Ralphiel Mack’s lawyer. The government will have an opportunity to offer a rebuttal, but depending on the length of the arguments the case could be under deliberation by the jury by this afternoon. Read More
Convicted Trenton Mayor Tony Mack’s lawyer blasts jury verdict
TRENTON, NJ — Calling the conviction of Mayor Tony Mack an unfair verdict, attorney Mark Davis yesterday blasted the jury decision that found his client guilty of corruption as the legal process to oust Mack from office showed no progress four days after his conviction.
Davis said both he and his client were disappointed in the verdict.
“I honestly cannot see how any reason-able jury can say that reasonable doubt was not raised,” Davis said. Read More
Two Members Of Drug Trafficking Organization Admit Conspiring To Sell Heroin In New Jersey
TRENTON, NJ – Two members of a large-scale drug trafficking organization today admitted conspiring to distribute heroin in Ocean and Monmouth counties, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Robert Ketcham, 28, of Bayville, New Jersey, and Kenneth Greenhow, 41, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court to separate informations charging them each with one count of conspiring to distribute heroin. Read More
N.J. Mayor’s Lawyer Says No Proof He Took Bribes As Trial Closes
TRENTON, NJ (Reuters) – The defense lawyer for the mayor of New Jersey’s capital, charged with corruption over development of a parking garage on city-owned property, told a federal jury in closing arguments on Thursday there was no proof his client ever took a bribe.
Trenton Mayor Tony Mack faces bribery and extortion charges after becoming ensnared in a 2010 sting operation with would-be developers who were actually government informants. Read More
N.J. mayor’s lawyer says no proof he took bribes as trial closes
TRENTON, NJ (Reuters) – The defense lawyer for the mayor of New Jersey’s capital, charged with corruption over development of a parking garage on city-owned property, told a federal jury in closing arguments on Thursday there was no proof his client ever took a bribe.
Trenton Mayor Tony Mack faces bribery and extortion charges after becoming ensnared in a 2010 sting operation with would-be developers who were actually government informants.
Under the scheme, the developers would buy city property for the garage for $100,000 less than the land was worth, and the Democratic mayor would receive money in exchange, prosecutors say. Read More
Trenton Mayor’s Lawyer Says Client is Innocent
TRENTON, NJ – The lawyer of the mayor of Trenton says the evidence against his client is not strong enough to convict him. Mayor Tony Mack, his brother and a supporter were arrested Monday on federal conspiracy charges after a sting operation.
Federal authorities say he accepted bribes in connection with a proposed parking garage project. Lawyer Mark Davis says he believes the evidence presented in the criminal complaint is “insufficient” to get a conviction. He says Mack maintains he is innocent. Read More
Attorney: Mack defense won’t cost taxpayers $1 million, as rumored
TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey’s top federal public defender said Monday the chatter about the Tony Mack defense costing taxpayers $1 million is “grossly exaggerated.” Still, those little legal fees of $110 an hour can add up.
Mack lawyer Mark Davis didn’t know for sure but said the talk in legal circles about the feds putting aside a million dollars for the defense “might be true. I don’t know what the exact numbers are, but I know we had to submit a budget.” Read More
New Jersey mayor convicted of bribery and extortion
TRENTON, NJ (Reuters) —Trenton Mayor Tony Mack was found guilty of federal extortion and bribery charges after being ensnared in a 2010 sting operation involving the development of a parking garage on city-owned property.
The would-be developers were, in fact, government informants.
Under the scheme, the developers would buy city property for the garage for $100,000 less than the value of the land, and the Democratic mayor of New Jersey’s capital city would receive money in exchange, prosecutors said. Read More
It’s Here: Guide to Mayor Tony Mack’s corruption trial
TRENTON, NJ — After two postponements, Mayor Tony F. Mack’s corruption trial is finally upon us. What the outcome will be or what explosive developments will unfold in court remain a mystery, but expect the unexpected in this case.
Mack and his brother Ralphiel Mack face charges of extortion, bribery, and mail and wire fraud in an alleged scheme to accept $119,000 in bribes in exchange for using the mayor’s influence over the development of a parking garage on city-owned land. Co-conspirators Joseph “JoJo” Giorgianni and former city recreation department employee Charles Hall III have already admitted guilt in the sting orchestrated by the government by accepting plea deals. Read More
Trenton jury asked to believe that stab to the heart was in self-defense
TRENTON, NJ — A Mercer County jury must decide if Lee Eric Funderburg was a jealous maniac when he stabbed Leno Parham nearly to death two years ago or was acting in self defense, attorneys said today.
Funderburg, 23, of the 200 block of Hillcrest Avenue, was originally charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses for allegedly plunging a knife directly into Parham’s heart and lung, Assistant Prosecutor William Fisher told jurors this afternoon during opening statements.
Trenton attempted murder suspect too ‘overwhelmed’ to attend trial
TRENTON, NJ — Murder try suspect Lee Eric Funderburg was again a no-show at his trial’s closing statements for Mercer County jurors yesterday.
That’s because he is exercising his constitutional rights and is “overwhelmed” by the trial determining if he was acting in self-defense or he premeditated the near-fatal stabbing of Leno Parham two years ago.
“The trial is too stressful and he isn’t used to this. He has never been arrested before and this is understandable,” said his defense attorney Mark Davis.
Trenton, New Jersey, mayor arrested on corruption charges
The mayor of New Jersey’s capital city was arrested Monday on corruption charges after being accused of accepting bribes during an undercover operation, authorities said.
The charges against Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, 46, his brother, Ralphiel Mack, 39, and business associate Joseph A. “JoJo” Giorgianni, 63, stem from an alleged kickback scheme to sell city-owned land to investors for significantly less than the assessed value. Read More
Trenton mayor and 2 co-defendants indicted on new federal charges
The mayor of New Jersey’s capital city and two other defendants who have been embroiled in corruption allegations since September were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on seven new counts, according to court documents.
The charges against Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, 46, his brother, Ralphiel Mack, 40 and business associate Joseph A. “JoJo” Giorgianni, 63, stem from an alleged kickback scheme to sell city-owned land to investors for significantly less than the assessed value. Read More
