Ballarotto secures warmer prison at Jojo’s request
By Jenna Pizzi | Times of Trenton
on November 12, 2014 at 1:24 PM, updated November 12, 2014 at 1:25 PM
TRENTON – Joseph “JoJo” Giorgianni is scheduled to report to a federal prison in North Carolina on Friday at noon to begin serving his six and a half year sentence for his role in a corruption scheme with the former Trenton mayor, his attorney said Wednesday.
Giorgianni, who admitted to accepting bribes on behalf of former Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, was originally scheduled to report to a Massachusetts facility on Wednesday, but was given a new assignment, said Giogianni’s attorney Jerome Ballarotto.
Ballarotto said the Federal Bureau of Prisons granted a request Giorgianni made to be housed in a facility in the southern part of the country. Ballarotto said Giorgianni, 65, had concerns about his health conditions in a colder climate.
Giorgianni was assigned to Federal Medical Center Butner in North Carolina and given until Friday to report. The facility for male offenders is part of a larger complex with low and medium security facilities.
Giorgianni was sentenced in September to the 78-month term. He admitted last year that he accepted bribe money from men he believed were involved in a development project in downtown Trenton and passed off the bribe money to Mack. Mack and his brother Ralphiel were found guilty after a month-long trial in February and were sentenced to jail. Tony Mack is currently serving a four year and 10 month sentence at a West Virginia prison camp.
Giorgianni was also charged with running a painkiller distribution ring from JoJo’s Steak House in Trenton along with his longtime companion and caretaker Mary Manfredo. Giorgianni pleaded guilty to a charge associated with the drug scheme and weapon possession. An ex-convict, Giorgianni is not allowed to have a weapon.
Manfredo was sentenced the same day as Giorgianni, but because she is hospitalized in critical condition Judge Michael Shipp granted an order delaying the start to her prison term until December.
“(Giorgianni) is concerned about Mary’s health,” Ballarotto said.