TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A key cooperating witness in an
FBI sting that targeted the mayor of New Jersey's capital city has died.
The Times of Trenton (http://bit.ly/ZN5Cfl
) reports former attorney Lemuel Blackburn was 75 and he had been battling
illness for several years.
Federal documents identified Blackburn as a cooperating witness in the sting
that targeted Trenton Mayor Tony Mack. It's alleged Blackburn met a sandwich
shop owner and Mack contributor to solicit the mayor's support for a phony
parking garage project.
Federal prosecutors allege Mack and Joseph Giorgianni agreed to take a
$100,000 bribe from the government informant.
Giorgianni acknowledged in a July interview with the newspaper that Blackburn
gave him envelopes full of cash.
Mack and Giorgianni have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
