By Associated Press - Thursday, October 3, 2019

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam Jr. pleading guilty to wire fraud (all times local):

7 p.m.

The mayor of Atlantic City has resigned after pleading guilty to defrauding a youth basketball club out of $87,000.

Frank Gilliam Jr. filed a resignation letter with the city clerk Thursday afternoon.

The resignation came as New Jersey officials began working to remove the Democrat from office. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy had called for his ouster.

Gilliam appeared earlier Thursday in federal court in Camden where he told a judge he stole the funds from team donors in Atlantic City and Philadelphia. He said he used the money for personal expenses from 2013 to 2018.

Gilliam apologized in the letter “to each constituent that voted for me and had high hopes in my tenure.”

He was elected mayor in 2017. City Council President Marty Small was expected to take over as acting mayor.

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10:55 a.m.

Atlantic City’s mayor has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitting he defrauded a basketball club out of $87,000.

Frank Gilliam Jr. appeared Thursday in federal court in Camden, where it emerged that half that amount of money was recovered from his home when FBI agents raided it last December.

Judge Joseph Rodriguez informed Gilliam his guilty plea could mean he could no longer hold public office.

Agents carried off numerous cardboard boxes and computer equipment during a raid of the mayor’s home on Dec. 3, but they remained silent about why they were there and what they had taken away.

Gilliam could face 20 years in prison. He also agreed to make restitution.

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