News

NEW YORK, NY May 12, 2008 —Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James will not face a second Federal criminal trial for using city credit cards for thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

WNYC's Bob Hennelly has this report.

In a statement U.S. Attorney Chris Christie said he moved for dismissal after considering the cost of another trail, and that even if James was convicted on the credit card counts, he would not face any additional jail time beyond the ten to 15 years for last months corruption conviction.

James is scheduled to be sentenced in July. The credit card abuses date as far back to 2OO1 and involved the former Mayor allegedly charging lavish vacations to places like the Dominican Republic and Rio de Janeiro.

During that period James was one of the highest paid public officials in the country getting more than $2OO,OOO a year as Mayor and $5O,OOO a year as a state senator.

The 72-year-old James and his former female companion, Tamika Riley, were convicted in April of conspiring to buy city-owned land and in turn selling it to developers for personal profit.

For WNYC in New Jersey I am Bob Hennelly.