Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James Convicted

After reading the article, circle the former mayor's political party in red ink. It's okay, it won't hurt your monitor.

(CNN) -- Former Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Sharpe James and co-defendant Tamika Riley were found guilty Wednesday of charges related to property fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of New Jersey said.

Prosecutors said James, 72, hijacked a program designed to encourage urban renewal by offering developers land at low costs, and approved the sale of city-owned properties to Riley, 39, then his girlfriend, at a fraction of their actual value from 2001 to 2005.

This 72-year old fossil was banging some 39-year old broad? Way to go, pops!

With James "steering" land to her, Riley bought multiple discounted properties and resold them at market rate without attempting to first rehabilitate them, as required by the program, prosecutors said. Riley collected about $500,000 in profits from the transactions, they said.

And you just know that neither of these idiots thought there was anything wrong with that.

James and Riley were found guilty of fraud charges, including conspiracy to "defraud the public of James' honest service." Riley alone was additionally found guilty of tax fraud and evasion. They will probably face four- to five-year sentences, district attorney spokesman Mike Drewniak said. (H/T - CNN)

"Defraud[ing] the public of honest service" is a criminal offense? Cripes, we could tie up the legal system for centuries if we wanted to do so. I mean how many politicians can you name that do give the public honest service?

So, how did you do? I'll bet your monitor is just covered in red ink, right? What? It's not? Well, that can't be. There must be some mistake. Let me re-read this article again . . . nope, no mention of James' political affiliation. Well, ain't that one fine how do you do?