News In Brief

Ex-Atlantic City mayor faces crime-link charges Newark, N.J.

Former Atlantic City Mayor Michael Matthews, ousted from office two weeks ago in a recall election, was charged Tuesday with soliciting bribes in return for an agreement to turn over the resort city's government to organized crime figures.

The five-count indictment handed up by a grand jury in a US district court here alleged Matthews solicited and accepted at least $150,000 in bribes from the Nicky Scarfo crime family prior to and during his mayoral election campaign in 1981. He was also charged with accepting bribes from developers eager to do business with Atlantic City.

Also indicted with Matthews was Frank Lentino, a union organizer.