Atlantic City's Democratic Mayor Resigns After Stealing $87K From Programs For Poor Kids

Brittany M. Hughes | October 4, 2019
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The Democratic mayor of Atlantic City resigned after pleading guilty this week to stealing nearly $90k from Atlantic City Starz, a youth basketball program he co-founded for underprivileged kids, and used the money to fund his own lavish lifetsyle.

Prosecutors said Gilliam had used his office to solicit the donations, telling donors the money would be used for his youth basketball team or for school supplies for poor children. Instead, “Gilliam, 49, used about $87,215 in donations made to AC Starz between 2013 and 2018 to cover personal expenses, ‘including luxury designer clothing, expensive meals, and personal trips to various locations,’ federal court documents show," CNN reports.

The now-former mayor was elected in 2017 after serving as a city councilman. The FBI seized about half the money he’d stolen in cash during a raid on his home back in December (yes, nearly a year ago), and Gillam has agreed to pay restitution. Released on a $100,000 bond, he now faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for January 7.

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