Newark, NEW JERSEY

April 16, 2008 - A federal jury convicted former Newark, N.J., Mayor Sharpe James, 72, and his ex-mistress, thirty-nine year old Tamika Riley of corruption stemming from the cut-rate sale of city land to Riley. They were convicted on all 18 charges that included fraud, conspiracy, corruption, tax evasion, and mail fraud.

James was mayor of Newark, the state's largest city for 20 years, from 1986 to 2006. He was also a Democratic state senator from 1999 to January 2008. (New Jersey is famous for their double-dipping politicians, who hold political offices in state government as well as local governments.) James took credit for redevelopment that included a pro hockey arena that opened in the fall.

James and Riley were indicted in July 2007 on charges that he abused his power to help her buy nine city-owned properties at discount rates through a city program designed to redevelop properties in run-down areas. The idea was that buyers would buy rundown property at substantially lower rates and were supposed to rehab the properties before selling. This was supposed to revitalize derelict neighborhoods. She paid $46,000 for the parcels and sold them for nearly $600,000 and failed to redevelop them as required. She also failed to pay taxes on the income.

The Boston Globe barely mentioned the conviction in a 62-word story that referred to Riley as a "former girlfriend." The New York Times headline was "Ex-Mayor Still Seen as Someone Who Lifted Newark." They pointed to interviews with academics, but they only quoted two and only one was favorable. Clement Price. He takes credit in his bio at Rutger's in Newark, for leadership in, among other things, the Newark public schools, that isn't anything to brag about.

The Newark school district rates a 2 at Greatschools.net for some of the worst-performing schools in the country. Of the 40 middle schools, only four rate 5 and above, with 10 being best. Of forty-eight elementary schools rated, 70% are rated 1 and 2. The high schools are worse.

The trial took five weeks and the verdict came after six days of deliberation. U.S. Dept. of Justice Press Release (dated April 16, 2008.) PDF

Even after his conviction, James received favorable attention. While his former mistress had to face the gauntlet of reporters and media at the front door, James was allowed to flee out the secured back door of the court building. U.S. Attorneys were angry. His wife picked him up in his well-known black Cadillac. However, the vanity plate on his black Cadillac that read "Bible" and bears the state seal and the words "former senator" were missing. Once the couple returned home and the car was parked in the driveway, Mrs. James emerged with the license plate in her hand and reattached it to the Cadillac

The courthouse was the Martin Luther King Building and Courthouse. James will be sentenced July 29.

He still faces a federal trial on charges he used city-issued credit cards to pay for $58,000 worth of personal expenses while he was mayor, including trips with several women other than his wife to Martha's Vineyard, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Rio de Janeiro.

More than a third of Newark's residents live in poverty and the city has been a symbol of urban decay. In 1967, race riots left deep scars on the Newark landscape and economy