Angelo Errichetti
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Angelo Joseph Errichetti (September 29, 1928 – May 16, 2013) was an American
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
politician who served as
Mayor of Camden, New Jersey Mayor of Camden, New Jersey, has been an office since its inception in 1828. List of mayors * Victor Carstarphen (2021–present) * Curtis Jenkins (interim) (2021) * Frank Moran (2018–2021) * Dana Redd (2010–2018) * Gwendolyn Faison (2000–2 ...
, and in the New Jersey Senate before being indicted during
Abscam Abscam (sometimes written ABSCAM) was an FBI sting operation in the late 1970s and early 1980s that led to the convictions of seven members of the United States Congress, among others, for bribery and corruption. The two-year investigation init ...
.


Early life

Angelo Joseph Errichetti grew up in poverty in Camden, the sixth of seven children of immigrants from Italy. His father, from Ruoti, Italy, worked stoking coal. The 5-foot, 9-inch Errichetti was a football standout at Camden High School and, after graduating went to
West Nottingham Academy West Nottingham Academy is an independent co-ed school serves both boarding and day students in grades 9-12. It was founded in 1744 by the Presbyterian preacher Samuel Finley, who later became President of The College of New Jersey (now Princet ...
and briefly took night classes at
Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and was ...
. After working for a time in his brother's dry cleaning business and working in insurance, he enlisted in the
United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...
.


Career

Errichetti went into politics in 1961 as administrative assistant to Mayor Alfred R. 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 State Senate.Janson, Donald
"It's Business as Usual; at Camden's City Hall"
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'', June 8, 1980. Accessed October 13, 2009.
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 submitted seven budgets without tax increases that were passed with little oversight. 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.


Abscam conviction

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 what was called the Abscam case. 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 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. After his indictment, he emphatically denied the allegations filed against him and refused to consider demands that he resign from his two elected positions. In 1981, Errichetti, defended by attorney Raymond A. Brown, was convicted of federal bribery and conspiracy charges, and sentenced to six years in prison, of which he served 32 months. U.S. Senator
Harrison A. Williams Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams Jr. (December 10, 1919November 17, 2001) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives (1953–1957) and the United States Sena ...
had claimed that he was improperly lured to accept bribes, to which Federal District Judge George C. Pratt responded that there was no evidence that the FBI sought out Senator Williams, rather he 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".


Death

A resident of
Ventnor City, New Jersey Ventnor City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 9,210, a decrease of 1,440 in the preceding decade."Angelo J. Errichetti, 84, Camden Mayor Convicted of Bribery, Dies"
''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'', May 28, 2013. Accessed October 25, 2021.
Camden mayor
Dana Redd Dana L. Redd (born March 7, 1968) is an American Democratic politician who served as the Mayor of Camden, from 2010 to 2018. Redd served in the New Jersey Senate from January 8, 2008, to January 5, 2010, representing the 5th Legislative Distri ...
ordered that flags at Camden's municipal buildings be flown at half staff during the day that his funeral was held.Colimore, Edward
"Angelo Errichetti dies; ex-Camden mayor was Abscam figure"
''
The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Pennsy ...
'', May 19, 2013. Accessed January 19, 2014. "Angelo J. Errichetti, 84, a former Camden mayor and state senator who was South Jersey's premier Democratic power broker in the decade before his 1981 bribery conviction in the Abscam scandal, has died after a long illness. He had been living in Ventnor, N.J."
He was predeceased by his wife Dolores and survived by his daughter, Michele.


Positions held

* Seaman,
United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...
. * 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 being sentenced on bribery charges).


In popular culture

The character Carmine Polito (played by Jeremy Renner) in
David O. Russell David Owen Russell (born August 20, 1958) is an American filmmaker. His early directing career includes the comedy films ''Spanking the Monkey'' (1994), '' Flirting with Disaster'' (1996), ''Three Kings'' (1999), and ''I Heart Huckabees'' (200 ...
's 2013 film '' American Hustle'' is based on Errichetti.Mulvihill, Geoff
"'Hustle' casts spotlight on real mayor"
''
The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Pennsy ...
'', December 27, 2013. Accessed February 17, 2014. "In the film, which opened Friday, Camden Mayor Carmine Polito turns down a briefcase full of money when he is first offered a bribe. The character, based on real-life Mayor Angelo Errichetti and played by Jeremy Renner, later agrees to accept the money because he believes doing so would lead to jobs for residents."


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Errichetti, Angelo 1928 births 2013 deaths Abscam American politicians of Italian descent Camden High School (New Jersey) alumni Mayors of Camden, New Jersey Military personnel from New Jersey Democratic Party New Jersey state senators People from Ventnor City, New Jersey Politicians convicted under the Travel Act Politicians convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States Rutgers University alumni United States Coast Guard enlisted New Jersey politicians convicted of corruption West Nottingham Academy alumni New Jersey politicians convicted of crimes