Getting to Know Trenton and Ewing- Tony Mack: Sophia Terry
Former Trenton mayor, Tony Mack, was released from jail in May of this year. Mack was elected in July of 2010. Two years later the FBI began questioning Mack on the topic of suspicious bribes. Although remaining in office for the two years that they performed their investigation, it was not until February of 2014 that Tony Mack was removed from office. The former-mayor was convicted of corruption after accepting $119,000 in exchange for agreeing to help sell land cheaply to companies who planned to build parking garages on city property. Mack was first sent to a federal prison in West Virginia in June of 2014 but was later sent to Memphis where he served the rest of his term. Mack was sent to Butner, NC where he lives on a residential reentry field office management program, his family living close by. One of Mack’s partners in the scheme, Joseph Georgianni, also known as JoJo, still remains in prison for his role. JoJo was convicted of collecting the bribes and involvement in a drug ring in which passed through his sandwich shop, JoJo’s steakhouse. One of Mack’s employees and friends, Charles Hall, was also convicted of participating in the drug ring and collecting bribes. Macks brother, Ralphiel Mack, also served time for his involvement after a police raid on his home found $2,500.
Mack had run for office with the promise that he would not hire out-of-city residents as his cabinet members. While holding true to this promise, as mayor, Mack rather hired members of his family and friends, most not having clean backgrounds. Giorgianni among these with a tainted history as he was a registered sex offender. Many cried out that Mack’s employees were not fit to perform their tasks even if they had a clean criminal past.
- Mack’s family moved to North Carolina after his indictment. His wife is a contracts and grants manager for North Carolina State in Raleigh and his son is a freshmen at North Carolina A&T State University.
- In 2011 the city hosted a recall election after many found Mack unqualified to be mayor following his choice of city officials and pattern of hiring and firing.
- Prior to his time as mayor, Mack acted as a Mercer County freeholder where he served on several committees of which included, Commission on Child Abuse and Missing Children, Airport Advisory Council, Human Services Advisory Council, Board of School Estimate, and the Organization Rules and Procedures Committee.
https://www.trentonian.com/news/ex-trenton-mayor-tony-mack-released-from-federal-prison/article_09ca176c-937b-54a5-a93a-68d35768de4c.html