[1][2] Gilliam was born and raised in Atlantic City and attended Stockton University, where he obtained a BA in criminal justice.
[4] On November 10, 2018, Mayor Gilliam and Atlantic City Councilman Jeffree Fauntleroy II were involved in a physical altercation outside the Golden Nugget's Haven Nightclub.
[6] On February 28, 2019, a municipal court dismissed assault and harassment charges filed against Gilliam by two individuals involved in the altercation.
[9] On December 3, 2018, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service agents raided Gilliam's home, removing computer equipment and boxes.
On October 3, 2019, Gilliam pleaded guilty to wire fraud after stealing $86,000 from a youth basketball team he founded, the Atlantic City Starz.