Camden School Official to Leave Post

Camden, NJ.: An embattled Camden official plans to leave his job with the city school district this month. James Mathes Junior has told school officials he wants to retire October 30th.

A federal grand jury indicted Mathes last month for allegedly taking gifts from a former Philadelphia mob boss in return for political favors. He's pleaded innocent to the charges and is due back in court today.

The indictment accuses Mathes of accepting gifts from Ralph Natale in return for helping the mob get public contracts.

The gifts allegedly included a diamond ring -- valued at up to five-thousand dollars -- for Mathes' girlfriend.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Author: 6 - ABC, Action News