Brother Of Trenton Mayor Arrested On Theft Charge

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Two Water Works employees, including the brother of Mayor Tony Mack, were arrested Monday and charged with official misconduct and theft by deception.

Mack's brother, Stanley Davis, a plant supervisor, and Robert Keith Williams were doing private plumbing work and water service hookups while being paid by the city and while using city equipment, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini said.

The two men, both 49, were arrested at their offices while members of the prosecutor's office conducted search warrants, Bocchini said.

Bocchini's office did not know whether Davis or Williams had retained lawyers. Davis was being held on $200,000 bail, and Williams' bail was set at $50,000.

Bocchini said the investigation is ongoing.

"My office has a duty to protect the taxpayers from this type of conduct no matter what level of government or type of employee is involved," he said.

Mack was reached Monday night on his cell phone but told an Associated Press reporter that she had the wrong number and had to call City Hall. Minutes later, he called back to complain about being bothered on his personal phone. He refused to answer questions and hung up.

City Council President George Muschal said he went to authorities to report that he suspected the mayor's brother was stealing city property.

Muschal, a retired Trenton police officer, said he contacted prosecutors in July with information he learned about thefts at the Water Works Department and after he confronted Mack about his brother's possible involvement.

Muschal said Mack told him that if his brother got caught, "It's on him," referring to Davis.

Bocchini's spokeswoman, Casey DeBlasio, confirmed that Muschal had contacted the office and provided information, but she wouldn't answer specific questions related to the investigation.

Mack's spokeswoman, Lauren Ira, said the administration had "no knowledge of that conversation," nor did it have knowledge of the investigation beyond what the prosecutor had released.

Mercer County detectives set up a sting operation and had an undercover officer meet with Davis, who agreed to accept two cash payments to perform private work at the house, Bocchini said.

Davis and six other Water Works employees closed off the street, excavated a large hole and installed a new water service. They billed the city overtime and deemed it an "emergency," Bocchini said.

Before any work was performed, detectives confirmed there was nothing wrong with the water service, Bocchini said.

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