Former Senator Spano Sentenced to a Year in Prison

DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Former State Sen. Nicholas Spano was sentenced Monday in White Plains to a year and a day in prison for filing fraudulent tax returns.

Spano pled guilty Feb. 10 one count of obstructing and impeding the Internal Revenue Service. 

He admitted failing to report more than $52,000 in income from his real estate business. Spano admitted to failing to report real estate commission and rental payments as income between 2000 and 2008 according to a press release from the United States Attorney's office.

The charges carried a maximum sentence of three years in prison, but Spano, in reaching a deal with prosecutors in February, received the reduced sentence.

“When Nicholas Spano took the oath of office, he swore to uphold the law, and yet, he did exactly the opposite,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in a press release. “There is absolutely no place in government for lawbreakers, and we will continue to do everything within our power to prosecute and punish them.”

U.S. District Jude Cathy Seibel proceeded over the February hearing and also handed out Monday’s sentence. The press release also said Seibel ordered Spano to pay a fine of $30,000 and to serve one year of supervised release.

Spano, a Yonkers Republican, served as a New York State Senator for the 35th district from 1987 to 2006.

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