April 16, 2008 - 10:03am
James found guilty on all counts
By EditorFormer Newark Mayor Sharpe James was convicted on all counts of a 5-count federal corruption indictment today, and co-defendant Tamika Riley was also found guilty on all 13 charges against her.
James, 72, was the Mayor from 1986 to 2006, and served in the State Senate from 1999 to 2008.
James will remain free on bail until sentencing, and could face several years in prison.
A federal jury found that James rigged the sale of city-owned land to Riley, his former girlfriend. Riley was able to quickly resell the land at a huge profit.
James was indicted last summer on 33 counts.
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Quote of the Day
September 4, 2008
“Mr. Pascrell has no comment at this point but was not surprised by the news." -- Caley Gray. a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, on Rob Andrews' decision to seek another term in the House.
-PolitickerNJ.com, 09/04/08
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Read the expanded Wake Up Call, our summary of today’s news media coverage.
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Politicker Poaches From Politico― News from Politicker.com
Xanadu bill footnote may weigh on Corzine― CHARLES STILE
Zoffinger not one to deny beliefs, avoid controversy― 'Codey's an idiot, and you can print that'
Welcome to New Jersey, Media Wasteland― NEW YORK OBSERVER
Divorce McGreevey style ― ALFRED DOBLIN
The judge got it right ― JAMES AHEARN
Capital Games― HERB JACKSON
Teen will get chance to sue a top N.J. judge ― ROBERTO RIVERA-SOTO
Mayor refusing to apologize for anti-Semitic slur ― WOODCLIFF LAKE
Court decision likely to have far-reaching implications in N.J. ― EMINENT DOMAIN
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I thought justice was dead in NJ
Ever since McGreevey was allow to skirt justice I thought justice was just a nostalgic thought of the good old days in New Jersey.
"Hollywood is a place whre thy'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and 50 cents for your soul." - Marilyn Monroe (She never knew how profound she was.)
There is Justice!
It's good to see that there is justice. I only hope that the sentence he receives is just as well. He needs to do some serious time for what he did to the citizens of Newark and the State of New Jersey. Does he lose his pension? He should.
Fantastic!
Lock him up and throw away the key! Sell the yachts, houses, Rolls and start paying down the debt. And this is one reason we cannot have Christie running for Governor, he can do more damage to the crooked bums running this state right where he is now!
"The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
--Theodore Roosevelt--
Good Riddence To Bad Rubbish!
He joins John Lynch. May Wayne Bryant and Joe Coniglio follow in their footsteps!
"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” - Thomas Jefferson
Bird craps on Sharpe James' head
Would seem that the "little bird" had a direct link to the "Fly on the Wall" - this verdict sends a definite message.
Hopefully he gets the max
Hopefully he gets the max sentence. Sort-of fitting that he'll live the next few years of his life being supported by taxpayers.
That's one down
Next up on the hit list: David Delle Donna.
"Political correctness is tyranny with manners." - Charlton Heston
Let's not go too far
It is good to see another crooked politician get his due. He should do jail time, lose his pension and have to make restitution if applicable.
As for the length of his sentence, I think he should do time but the amount of time he does should be tempered by his age. His crimes, while despicable, do not merit a life sentence.
Let's hope Christie keeps his 1.000 batting average going forward. There is a lot more to do in North Jersey and all over the state.
down goes stupid
Having had the opportunity to see the criminal a few times questioning testifiers in committee as if he were the judge, all i can say is good riddance.
Hackett of Orange, Next
Mims Hackett, the mayor of Orange, is hopefuly next.
The Plumber of Paramus
and wife are next ?
Advice for James
Hold a press conference and announce you are a "A GAY AMERICAN" and all you crimes will fall through the cracks.
"Hollywood is a place whre thy'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and 50 cents for your soul." - Marilyn Monroe (She never knew how profound she was.)
who knew
Now that James is convicted, what will the other senators say ,being as they knew what James, Bryant and Coniglio were doing all these years. It must have been OK with them as long as they weren't caught.
CommonSenseRules is right
What Sharpe James did was, undeniably, a terrible thing. Defrauding the taxpayers the way that he did and using his political power for personal gain is certainly despicable in an elected official who has an obligation to his constituents.
However, CommonSenseRules is right. James is an aged man, and while his crimes deserve punishment, to call for a life sentence for him is extreme. Let him pay restitution and punitive damages to the State of New Jersey and City of Newark, let him do enough jail time to prevent others from doing the same, and then leave the old man alone.
Christie
better hit the treadmill. He looks ready to burst. If he tries to run for Governor in that condition he could keel over from a heart attack. Why do smart people let themselves get so fat?
we should not tolerate corruption
any public official takes an oath of office and is a position of trust, power, and influence. As we all know, it is too easy to link money with power. The public officials who are tempted to do this are ultimately stealing from all of us, and it conflicts them from doing there job appropriately. I feel he should be given the maximum sentence. For all those who argue against that with a blatant appeal to pity, it shows a troubling amount of loyalty one has which is how that official was able to do what he did in the first place.
ZackDude
I have no loyalty to James, other than some overlapping political ideology, but I believe that your and others' calls to lock the man up for the rest of his life show your inclination to put political animosity before good judgment.
Lock Him UP
James let down his people and should get a heavy sentence.Plus he should have a cell mate named "Bubba"