Angelo Errichetti
Encyclopedia
Angelo Joseph Errichetti (born 1928) is an American
Democratic Party
politician who served as Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
, and in the New Jersey State Senate before being indicted during Abscam
.
whose job was stoking coal. The 5-foot, 9-inch Errichetti was a football standout at Camden High School
and briefly attended Rutgers University
. After jobs in dry cleaning and insurance, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard
. He went into politics in 1961 as administrative assistant to Mayor Alfred Pierce and was named as Camden's purchasing agent and later as head of its Department of Public Works. He was first elected as Mayor in 1973 and was chosen in 1976 to fill a vacancy in the New Jersey Senate
. In 1977 he was re-elected as mayor with 88% of the vote and won election to a full term in the Senate.
As Mayor of Camden, Errichetti put in 12-hour days, working to improve the economy of the struggling city. He exercised substantial control over the city's operation, and he had submitted seven budgets without tax increases that were passed with little oversight, before the City Council first scheduled hearings for his budget submitted in 1980. Despite changes made by the Council, Errichetti was able to get his budget passed as is by a vote of 5–2. After his indictment, he emphatically denied the allegations filed against him and refused to consider demands that he resign from his two elected positions. His grip on local politics started to fade, with his three-member slate for the Camden Board of Education all losing in elections, though he was able to get all of his Democratic City Committee candidates elected in June 1980.
In the Abscam case, Errichetti was charged with arranging for undercover agents to meet with several politicians who would end up accepting bribes to help use their influence on behalf of individuals posing as Arab investors, with Errichetti taking his share of the bribes. In 1981, despite his representation by attorney Raymond A. Brown
, Errichetti was convicted on the federal bribery charges, for which he served time in prison. U.S. Senator
Harrison A. Williams
had claimed that he was improperly lured to accept bribes, to which Federal District Judge George C. Pratt
responded that Williams had selected himself when he accepted Errichetti's offer to meet with the undercover agents and that it was Errichetti who was "standing in the center of a cesspool of corruption".
In May 1981, Errichetti was indicted on charges of bribery related to federally subsidized sewer projects, in which Errichetti was said to have received $10,000 in cash to steer engineering projects.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who served as Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
Mayor of Camden, New Jersey
Mayor of Camden, New Jersey:*Dana Redd 2010 to present *Gwendolyn Faison 2000-2010*Milton Milan 1997-2000 when indicted. Milton Milan was the third mayor of Camden, New Jersey indicted for corruption.*Arnold Webster 1993-1997*Aaron Thompson 1990-1993...
, and in the New Jersey State Senate before being indicted during Abscam
Abscam
Abscam was a United States Federal Bureau of Investigation sting operation run from the FBI's Hauppauge, Long Island, office in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
.
Biography
Errichetti grew up in poverty in Camden, the sixth of seven children of an immigrant from NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
whose job was stoking coal. The 5-foot, 9-inch Errichetti was a football standout at Camden High School
Camden High School (New Jersey)
Camden High School is a four-year comprehensive community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from the city of Camden, New Jersey, United States. The school is part of the Camden City Public Schools, which is classified as an Abbott District. The school,...
and briefly attended Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. After jobs in dry cleaning and insurance, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. He went into politics in 1961 as administrative assistant to Mayor Alfred Pierce and was named as Camden's purchasing agent and later as head of its Department of Public Works. He was first elected as Mayor in 1973 and was chosen in 1976 to fill a vacancy in the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
. In 1977 he was re-elected as mayor with 88% of the vote and won election to a full term in the Senate.
As Mayor of Camden, Errichetti put in 12-hour days, working to improve the economy of the struggling city. He exercised substantial control over the city's operation, and he had submitted seven budgets without tax increases that were passed with little oversight, before the City Council first scheduled hearings for his budget submitted in 1980. Despite changes made by the Council, Errichetti was able to get his budget passed as is by a vote of 5–2. After his indictment, he emphatically denied the allegations filed against him and refused to consider demands that he resign from his two elected positions. His grip on local politics started to fade, with his three-member slate for the Camden Board of Education all losing in elections, though he was able to get all of his Democratic City Committee candidates elected in June 1980.
In the Abscam case, Errichetti was charged with arranging for undercover agents to meet with several politicians who would end up accepting bribes to help use their influence on behalf of individuals posing as Arab investors, with Errichetti taking his share of the bribes. In 1981, despite his representation by attorney Raymond A. Brown
Raymond A. Brown
Raymond A. Brown was an American criminal defense lawyer who represented a wide variety of high-profile clients, ranging from politicians to accused spies, including New Jersey state senator Angelo Errichetti , boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and "Dr...
, Errichetti was convicted on the federal bribery charges, for which he served time in prison. U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Harrison A. Williams
Harrison A. Williams
Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams, Jr. was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate . Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981 for taking bribes in the Abscam sting operation, and resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1982...
had claimed that he was improperly lured to accept bribes, to which Federal District Judge George C. Pratt
George C. Pratt
George Cheney Pratt was a federal appellate judge in the United States.Pratt attended Yale University as an undergraduate as well as Yale Law School...
responded that Williams had selected himself when he accepted Errichetti's offer to meet with the undercover agents and that it was Errichetti who was "standing in the center of a cesspool of corruption".
In May 1981, Errichetti was indicted on charges of bribery related to federally subsidized sewer projects, in which Errichetti was said to have received $10,000 in cash to steer engineering projects.
Position held
- Seaman, United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast GuardThe United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. - City Purchasing Agent (1961–1965), Camden, New Jersey.
- Democratic Municipal Chairman (1965–1981), Camden, New Jersey.
- Mayor (1973–1981), Camden, New Jersey.
- State Senator (1976–1981), New Jersey (resigned after sentenced on bribery charges).