Small is fifth Atlantic City mayor to face charges

Below is a list of Atlantic City mayors who have been charged during their time in office: 

Small, 50, was charged Monday with terroristic threats, aggravated assault and disorderly persons simple assault. His wife, Superintendent La’Quetta Small, 47, was charged with three counts of disorderly persons simple assault, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Authorities allege the Smalls physically and emotionally abused their teenage daughter during the months of December and January.

Gilliam resigned as mayor in October 2019 after pleading guilty to wire fraud and admitting in federal court to stealing more than $87,000 between 2013 and 2018 from AC Starz, a nonprofit he created in 2011. Gilliam was sentenced to 30 days in prison, three years’ probation and 200 hours of community service in January 2021. 

On Nov. 11, 2018, Gilliam and At-Large Councilman Jeffree Fauntleroy II were involved in a fight outside Haven Nightclub at Golden Nugget Atlantic City.

Charges against Gilliam Jr. for his role in the fight were dismissed. Fauntleroy pleaded guilty to a city ordinance against impeding traffic in a public space and paid a $500 fine.

Gilliam was succeeded as mayor by Small.

Levy was sentenced to three years’ probation for defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs after admitting to never being a Green Beret in 2008.

The former Atlantic City Beach Patrol chief served as mayor for 22 months before resigning after a two-week disappearance that attracted international media attention and labeled him the “missing mayor.” He later acknowledged his absence was the result of an investigation by the VA and over medication for his treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Levy, who admitted in November 2007 to exaggerating his military record to collect increased benefits, also was required to repay $25,198 he received as a result of his lies, plus fines and fees totaling $5,100. William “Speedy” Marsh, City Council president, becomes acting mayor after Levy resigns.

Matthews pleaded guilty in November 1984 to accepting a $10,000 bribe from a federal agent posing as a mob-connected representative of a janitorial supply company.

Matthews was arrested by the FBI in December 1983 after a two-year undercover operation found evidence of corruption. Matthews reportedly took money from a mob family run by Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo in return for promises to use his influence as mayor to help the organization, federal authorities said.

Matthews was recalled by voters in 1984. He served 5½ years in federal prison, followed by 9½ years of probation. He died in 2014.

On July 27, 1989, State Police arrested Usry, City Council President Walter Collette, Councilmen Arnold Orsatti and Eugene Dorn, and nine others in a wide-ranging crackdown on alleged bribery and corruption in city government.

The seven-month investigation was spurred when local businessman Albert Black sought city Zoning Board approval for a gas station and “was approached to do certain things,” police said. Black went undercover for the State Police and wore electronic eavesdropping equipment.

Usry and eight others were charged with official misconduct, bribery, conspiracy and gifts to public servants.

He was arrested at his home on Indiana Avenue at 7:30 a.m. Usry, wearing a blue-and-white nylon track suit and still in a cast from recent rotator cuff surgery, looked stunned as he was led away by half a dozen police.

He pleaded guilty to the least serious charge against him, a violation of state campaign-contribution laws. He was accepted into the state’s pretrial intervention program, and the state dropped all its other charges against him. His record was ultimately expunged.