Blitz Charges 2 More in Robinson Sex Tape Conspiracy & Extortion By VIRGINIA McCABE Related charges Craig Callaway, Floyd Tally, Ronald Callaway. Atlantic City Councilman John Schultz and recently fired Atlantic City Public Works Director David Callaway were charged today for their alleged part in an extortion plot against Atlantic City Councilman Eugene Robinson in November 2006. David Callaway and Schultz were both charged with conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy to commit invasion of privacy, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Jeffrey S. Blitz. The conspiracy charge carries a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. A spokesman for Schultz said there was so comment. Schultz could not be reached by phone. David Callaway's phone number is not listed and an attempt to reach him for comment was unsuccessful. The two men surrendered themselves at the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Friday and were released on a summons. They will appear in the Hamilton Township Municipal Court next week for a hearing, according to the Press of Atlantic City. Ronald Callaway, also known as Jihad Abdullah, will also appear in court next week for his alleged part in the conspiracy. Robinson was caught on tape receiving oral sex from a prostitute, allegedly set up by Callaway and others, in a plot to embarrass Robinson publicly by the release of the video to the media. Blitz said Robinson did not pay for sex. The prostitute in the case will not be charged. The unedited tape of the encounter was allegedly delivered to Schultz's office in Atlantic City and the government is also alleging that Schultz arraigned for a computer expert to distort the face of the prostitute to hide her identity, Blitz stated. Blitz added that after the video tape was altered at Schultz's office, it was returned to Craig Callaway, the former Atlantic City Council President, now serving 40 months in a federal prison in Gilmore, W. Va., for taking $36,000 in bribes. Blitz stated that it was returned to Callaway so that it could be used against Robinson by releasing it to the media. The investigation is continuing with regard to other co-conspirators who aided, abetted, assisted or conspired with the charged defendants and others who have been identified throughout the course of the investigation, according to Blitz. Last week three people were charged with the crime including, Craig Callaway, Ronald Callaway and Floyd Tally. Tally remains a fugitive from justice. A warrant charging Criag Callaway with theft by extortion, conspiracy to commit theft by extortion, invasion of privacy was lodged as a detainer against the 48-year-old prisoner at Gilmore, W. Va., where he is serving 40 months for taking bribes in office. Schultz became a target in the investigation after it was discovered that Callaway placed phone calls to him, via his cell phone, before, during and after the taping, according to those with knowledge of the investigation. Blitz said that the crime took place during the month of November 2006. For months after the crime, Schultz denied any involvement with the conspirators, he said he was not going to resign from the city council. Law enforcement officials said they became concerned that Atlantic County Councilwoman Joyce Mollineaux had mounted a "demonstration-like campaign" during council meetings to further embarrass Robinson. Officials said Callaway was brought to a meeting with them and told to stop the activity. Additionally, the FBI was in attendance at the city council meeting to find out additional information about the planned demonstration against Robinson. "Callaway told me that we were asking him to put out fires he didn't start," one law enforcement official said. At the next meeting, Callaway had put a stop to the "harassment" of Robinson. |
Atlantic City Councilman John Schultz Published April 30, 2007 This is a verbatim transcript sent to the Atlantic Daily Sentinel by Councilman John Schultz.via fax April 29. "While I am deeply saddened by these charges, I understand that we are a society governed by law and no person is above it. I have lived my entire life with the utmost respect for the law and am honored to serve the people of Atlantic City, my home town as a Council Person. I ask to be treated no differently than anyone else. I am presumed innocent and will establish my innocence in court. I have served the people of this city for many years and have always's given back to my community. I will not avoid my responsibilities because of accusations. I firmly state that I have never been engaged in any criminal activity as alleged. I am represented by Jacobs & Barbone and pursuant to their advice, will only comment further at the appropriate court events. My time and effort is to be devoted to the citizen's I serve, and not to defend myself in the press. My work in the public interest speaks for itself."
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