Tag:

Corruption

Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking
Ethics Chair Asks House To Expel Santos After Finding 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking The third time may be the charm for federal lawmakers hoping to oust embattled New York Rep. George Santos from office. House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, filed a resolution to expel Santos from Congress on Friday morning, Nov. 17. Members are expected to vote on the resolution the week after Thanksgiving.  Earlier Report: LI Rep Santos Won't Run For Re-Election: 'Substantial Evidence' Of Lawbreaking, Committee Says The rare move came just one day after the committee, made up of five Republicans and five Democrats, released a report sayi…
$135K Spent At Strip Clubs: Government Contractor In Hudson Valley Admits Hiding Expenses $135K Spent At Strip Clubs: Government Contractor In Hudson Valley Admits Hiding Expenses
$135K Spent At Strip Clubs: Government Contractor In Hudson Valley Admits Hiding Expenses A Westchester County government contractor and its manager from Fairfield County have admitted to trying to hide tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money spent at strip clubs.  City Carting of Westchester, Inc. and its manager, 37-year-old Christopher Oxer of Darien, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 6 to submitting false financial records that hid more than $100,000 in company money that was spent at strip clubs, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.  According to the DA's Office, City Carting held an annual $20 million contract with the county …
Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From Hudson Valley Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From Hudson Valley
Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Of Ex-Cuomo Aide From Hudson Valley The country's top court has reversed the wire-fraud conviction of a Northern Westchester County resident and former top aide to ousted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has already served years of prison time for the offense. In a decision on Thursday, May 11, the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled to reverse the fraud conviction of Joseph Percoco, of the hamlet of South Salem in the town of Lewisboro, who was sent to federal prison on corruption charges in 2018.  Percoco, age 54, had been accused of accepting over $300,000 in bribes from an energy company in 2014 while he had been …
$52M Scheme: Hudson Valley Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds $52M Scheme: Hudson Valley Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds
$52M Scheme: Hudson Valley Resident Among 10 Charged By Feds Ten people have been charged in connection with a massive scheme to defraud a leading cargo airline based in New York of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the services of its employees, federal authorities announced. The 10 charged are: Connecticut resident Abilash Kurien, age 45, of Wilton in Fairfield County; Hudson Valley resident Carlton Llewellyn, age 55, of Highland Mills in Orange County; Long Island resident Robert Schirmer, age 58, of Port Jefferson Station; Queens resident Patrick Lau, 43, of Flushing; Lars Winkelbauer, age 47, of Bangkok, Thailand; Skye …
Independent Investigator To Probe Accusations Of Corruption At School District In Hudson Valley Independent Investigator To Probe Accusations Of Corruption At School District In Hudson Valley
Independent Investigator To Probe Accusations Of Corruption At School District In Hudson Valley A Westchester County school district is hiring a third-party investigator to investigate corruption accusations that residents have raised. On Thursday, Oct. 27, Mount Vernon School District Superintendent Waveline Bennett-Conroy and Board of Education President Adriane Saunders released a joint statement in which they announced that the city's school district would "immediately retain the professional services of outside experts" to answer questions about the district's contractual procurement process and use of grant funding.  In the statement, Bennett-Conroy and&…
Brian Benjamin Resigns As NY Lt. Governor After Arrest For Alleged Bribery, Fraud Scheme Brian Benjamin Resigns As NY Lt. Governor After Arrest For Alleged Bribery, Fraud Scheme
Brian Benjamin Resigns As NY Lt. Governor After Arrest For Alleged Bribery, Fraud Scheme New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's No. 2 has resigned following his arrest for an alleged campaign-funding scheme during a previous run for New York City comptroller. New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was arrested on Tuesday, April 12 on charges that include bribery, honest services wire fraud, and falsification of records following an investigation into probes from his former campaign. Original story - NY Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin Arrested For Alleged Scheme To Funnel Fraudulent Donations Benjamin pleaded not guilty on Tuesday at an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was released an…
Former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies At Prison In Hudson Valley Former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies At Prison In Hudson Valley
Former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Dies At Prison In Hudson Valley Embattled former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, has reportedly died at the age of 77 in a Hudson Valley prison. A Democrat, Silver was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison in July 2021 on corruption charges and died at the Otisville Correctional Institution in Orange County on Monday, Jan. 24, officials announced. Silver, who at one point represented most of Manhattan, was found guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud, two counts of honest services mail fraud, two counts of extortion under the color of off…
Ex-Cuomo Aide From Area Released From Federal Prison Ex-Cuomo Aide From Area Released From Federal Prison
Ex-Cuomo Aide From Area Released From Federal Prison A former top aide to ousted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been released from federal prison following a conviction on corruption charges, years before his sentence was set to expire. Original story - Ex-Cuomo Aide From Northern Westchester Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes Northern Westchester resident Joseph Percoco, of South Salem, who was serving time in a Hudson Valley prison, was transferred to a halfway house, according to the federal Residential Reentry Management office in Brooklyn. Earlier story - Former Cuomo Aide From Northern Westchester Ordered To Report To Prison Percoco…
Three Former NYPD Police Officers Admit To Bribery Scheme Three Former NYPD Police Officers Admit To Bribery Scheme
Three Former Nypd Police Officers Admit To Bribery Scheme Three former NYPD officers from Long Island admitted to their roles in a scheme to sell personal information of victims in exchange for bribes, federal officials announced. In Brooklyn federal court, Robert Hassett, age 36, of Farmingville, a former NYPD officer, pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in a scheme to sell the personal information of automobile accident victims in exchange for thousands of dollars worth of bribes. Prosecutors also said that Hassett also admitted that he participated in a scheme to steer vehicles damaged in automobile accidents to a tow truck company in c…
Area Man Found Guilty Of Bribery, Kickback Scheme With School Employee Area Man Found Guilty Of Bribery, Kickback Scheme With School Employee
Area Man Found Guilty Of Bribery, Kickback Scheme With School Employee A Westchester man who paid a school district employee thousands in bribes and kickbacks has been found guilty following a two-week trial, authorities announced. Ricardo Jimenez, age 57, was found guilty of bribery and rewarding official misconduct, both felonies, after allegedly paying a Chappaqua Central School District maintenance employee over $5,000 to ensure district-related maintenance projects were awarded to a company he owned. Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said that Jimenez and his company, RJ Summit Services, Inc. had invoices for work approved by the school empl…
Former County Executive In Hudson Valley, Two Others Admit To Corruption Scheme Former County Executive In Hudson Valley, Two Others Admit To Corruption Scheme
Former County Executive In Hudson Valley, Two Others Admit To Corruption Scheme Three former members of a Hudson Valley Industrial Development Agency including a former county executive have pleaded guilty to felony corruption charges. Former Orange County Executive Ed Diana, who served as Orange County's executive for three terms, was one who pleaded guilty Monday, June 21, in a fraud scheme involving the county's Independent Development Agency (IDA). The pleas come on the heels of a long-term investigation by the Orange County District Attorney's Office in dealings with the IDA with a company called Galileo Technology Group, which was awarded vague contracts from 201…
Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Released Early From Hudson Valley Prison Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Released Early From Hudson Valley Prison
Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Released Early From Hudson Valley Prison Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been released on furlough from federal prison in the Hudson Valley as he awaits a decision about whether the 77-year-old disgraced politician can serve out his term in home confinement. Silver, once one of New York’s most powerful politicians, was sentenced last year to six-and-a-half years in prison following his 2018 conviction on bribery and corruption charges. Specifically, Silver was found guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud, two counts of honest services mail fraud, two counts of extortion under the color of official ri…
Tax Collector In Hudson Valley Allegedly Stole More Than $80K For Online Shopping Sprees Tax Collector In Hudson Valley Allegedly Stole More Than $80K For Online Shopping Sprees
Tax Collector In Hudson Valley Allegedly Stole More Than $80K For Online Shopping Sprees A 41-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $88,000 in tax funds collected for the use of an area town and its schools.  Jennifer Colucci, of Hopewell Junction, was arrested on Tuesday, March 2, following an investigation by the state Comptroller's Office, the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office, and the New York State Police. She served as Beekman tax collector for two years, ending in August 2020. “While people across the state struggled to deal with the economic impact of the pandemic, Jennifer Colucci allegedly used taxpayer dollars to fund her ow…
Man Indicted For Fraud Against Area School District Man Indicted For Fraud Against Area School District
Man Indicted For Fraud Against Area School District A Westchester man is facing a host of charges for his role in a fraud scheme that defrauded a Northern Westchester school district. Yonkers resident Ricardo Jimenez has been indicted on charges related to a bribery, kickback, and money laundering scheme aimed at defrauding the Chappaqua Central School District.  Original story - Two Men Busted For $100,000 Schools Kickback Scheme In Northern Westchester Specifically, Jimenez, 54, was charged with: Corrupting the government; Bribery; Rewarding official misconduct; Two counts of money laundering; Conspiracy. At the time of …
Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced For Conviction On Corruption Charges Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced For Conviction On Corruption Charges
Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced For Conviction On Corruption Charges Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, once one of the state’s most powerful politicians, will spend the better part of a decade behind bars after being convicted on corruption charges. A federal judge in Manhattan sentenced Silver, 76, to six-and-a-half years in prison on Monday, July 20 following his 2018 conviction. The former Democratic leader, who acknowledged his wrongdoing at his sentencing, was also ordered to pay a $1 million fine. Silver, who at one point represented most of Manhattan, was found guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud, two counts of hones…
Labor Union President From Area Demanded, Accepted Bribes, Feds Say Labor Union President From Area Demanded, Accepted Bribes, Feds Say
Labor Union President From Area Demanded, Accepted Bribes, Feds Say A Fairfield County resident who serves as the president of the local International Longshoremen’s Association has been charged by federal prosecutors with demanding and accepting bribes. Glenn Blicht, 57, of Wilton, was arrested Friday, July 26 for honest services fraud and a violation of the Taft-Hartley Act for demanding and accepting at least $150,000 in bribe payments from an employer. The honest services fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He was also charged with one count of demanding or receiving prohibited payments as a labor union official, which carries…
Ex-Detective Sentenced To Prison For Obstructing Drug Investigation In Area Ex-Detective Sentenced To Prison For Obstructing Drug Investigation In Area
Ex-Detective Sentenced To Prison For Obstructing Drug Investigation In Area A convicted corrupt former NYPD officer will spend time behind bars after obstructing an investigation into a Westchester drug deal whom he also temporarily ran an illegal sports betting business. Brooklyn resident Saed Rabah, 46, has been sentenced to two years in prison in White Plains federal court for knowingly providing misinformation to a federal law enforcement officer to obstruct a drug investigation into an alleged Yonkers dealer. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman announced the sentence on Friday, which also carries a year of supervised release and a $10,000 forfeiture. The alleged dr…
Ex-NYPD Detective, Wife Admit To Running Multi-Million Dollar Gambling, Prostitution Ring Ex-NYPD Detective, Wife Admit To Running Multi-Million Dollar Gambling, Prostitution Ring
Ex-nypd Detective, Wife Admit To Running Multi-Million Dollar Gambling, Prostitution Ring A former NYPD detective and his wife both pleaded guilty to running a multi-million dollar gambling and prostitution ring that reached from Queens to Long Island and allegedly involved seven active duty NYPD officers. Ludwig Paz, 51, who was assigned to the NYPD vice squad, pled to two counts of attempted enterprise corruption and one count of promoting prostitution, acting Queens District Attorney John Ryan said.  He also agreed to turn over $20,840 in illegal profits. His wife, Arelis Peralta, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted enterprise corruption. She has already been sent…
Two Men Busted For $100,000 Schools Kickback Scheme In Northern Westchester Two Men Busted For $100,000 Schools Kickback Scheme In Northern Westchester
Two Men Busted For $100,000 Schools Kickback Scheme In Northern Westchester A pair of men from Westchester are facing charges for their roles in an alleged $100,000 kickback scheme to defraud the Chappaqua School District in New Castle. Cortlandt Manor resident Jorge Barreiros and Yonkers resident Ricardo Jimenez surrendered themselves into the custody of the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and were arrested on Tuesday after being implicated in the scheme. The felony complaint alleges that the two men ““engaged in a scheme constituting a systematic ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud” the Chappaqua Central School District,” Westchester Co…
Campaign Cash, Name Recognition Help Cuomo Trounce Molinaro For Third Term As Governor Campaign Cash, Name Recognition Help Cuomo Trounce Molinaro For Third Term As Governor
Campaign Cash, Name Recognition Help Cuomo Trounce Molinaro For Third Term As Governor Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle easily defeated Republican Marc Molinaro on Tuesday, according to unofficial returns from the state Board of Elections. With 97 percent of the votes counted, Cuomo led by an unofficial 59 to 37 percent. Cuomo benefitted from a huge campaign war chest, high name recognition and a very strong turnout of Democrats on Tuesday -- estimated as nearly double the turnout in 2014. It will be Cuomo's third four-year term as governor, which in recent years was marred by a pay-to-play corruption scandal.  Although Molinaro said he did not vote for Donald Trump in …
Former State Senate Leader, Son Sentenced To Prison For Corruption Convictions Former State Senate Leader, Son Sentenced To Prison For Corruption Convictions
Former State Senate Leader, Son Sentenced To Prison For Corruption Convictions Former New York State Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, have been sentenced for corruption charges. In Manhattan federal court, Dean Skelos was sentenced to 51 months in prison, while the younger Skelos got four years behind bars after being convicted twice of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, three counts of extortion under color of official right, and three counts of soliciting and receiving bribes.   In addition to the prison time, Dean Skelos was ordered to pay a $500,000 fine and sentenced …
Who Do You Think Won?: Key Clashes In Cuomo-Molinaro Debate Who Do You Think Won?: Key Clashes In Cuomo-Molinaro Debate
Who Do You Think Won?: Key Clashes In Cuomo-Molinaro Debate Video: In case you missed it, or if you'd like to see it again, watch a video of the hourlong debate above Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican challenger Marc Molinaro took off the boxing gloves in a fiery one-hour debate Tuesday that -- between numerous interruptions -- touched on health care, corruption and President Donald Trump The only one-on-one debate scheduled before the Nov. 6 election got testy as Cuomo and Molinaro attacked each other mid-sentence. Democrat Cuomo, a resident of New Castle, repeatedly tried to link Molinaro to Donald Trump, also a native New Yorker, even though th…
State AG Candidates Vow To Fight Albany Corruption At Hudson Valley Forum State AG Candidates Vow To Fight Albany Corruption At Hudson Valley Forum
State AG Candidates Vow To Fight Albany Corruption At Hudson Valley Forum Candidates for Attorney General and state Senate visited the Mediterranean Political Action Committee in Yonkers on Thursday to discuss statewide issues. The election is Nov. 6. Democrat Letitia "Tish" James and Green Party Candidate Michael Sussman spoke at the forum, discussing the criminalizaing of mental illness, criminal justice reform, corruption in Albany, gender and race.Republican Keith Wofford did not attend.  "Mental illness should not be a crime, and poverty should not be a crime," James said.  Sussman pointed out that 40 elected officials have been prosecu…
New Website Created By Political Foe To 'Dig Up Dirt' On Gov. Cuomo New Website Created By Political Foe To 'Dig Up Dirt' On Gov. Cuomo
New Website Created By Political Foe To 'Dig Up Dirt' On Gov. Cuomo Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has created a political website for whistleblowers to provide tips on suspected crimes committed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration. Molinaro, a Republican running for governor on Nov. 6, said he created CuomoLeaks.com after “countless calls, often in whispered tones” alleging wrongdoing by top Cuomo aides and appointees. “For months, my campaign has been receiving information from courageous state employees seeking to expose corruption and frustrated by the refusal of New York State law enforcement figures to act on what they view as clear illegal…
Ex-Cuomo Aide From South Salem Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes Ex-Cuomo Aide From South Salem Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes
Ex-Cuomo Aide From South Salem Sentenced For Taking $300K In Bribes A former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who lives in Northern Westchester and was convicted of accepting $300,000 in bribes from an energy company and developer has been sentenced. Joseph Percoco, a South Salem resident, was sentenced to six years in prison in federal court in Manhattan on Thursday afternoon. The 49-year-old Percoco has been ordered to surrender himself into custody on Dec. 28, after the holidays.  At his sentencing, U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni said Percoco was motivated by "greed and arrogance."  Along with the prison time, Percoco also received…
Attorney General Candidate Vows To Investigate Cuomo Administration If Elected Attorney General Candidate Vows To Investigate Cuomo Administration If Elected
Attorney General Candidate Vows To Investigate Cuomo Administration If Elected Although she is a fellow Democrat, a candidate for state Attorney General has vowed to investigate corruption within the Cuomo Administration if elected in the Thursday Sept. 13 primary and Nov. 6 election. Zephyr Teachout, a former challenger to Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle, said she would probe whether the Democratic governor has used state resources for campaign purposes, according to multiple news reports. Teachout told reporters in Albany that whoever wins the attorney general's race must be independent enough to investigate the governor's office. She also said she's the only state …
Vote Now: Who Won Cuomo-Nixon NY Democratic Primary Debate? Vote Now: Who Won Cuomo-Nixon NY Democratic Primary Debate?
Vote Now: Who Won Cuomo-Nixon NY Democratic Primary Debate? Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Democratic challenger Cynthia Nixon engaged in a heated debate focusing on corruption, personal finances and who would be better to battle President Donald Trump. Cuomo, a second-term incumbent, promised not to run for president in 2020 during the hour-long debate at Hofstra University on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Both candidates accused each other of interrupting and lying.  Cuomo was grilled about pushing to name the Tappan Zee Bridge after his father, a decision that remains controversial in the Hudson Valley. “The Tappan Zee Bridge is no more,” he said, noting that a &qu…
Cuomo Campaign Is Trying To Get This Molinaro TV Ad Pulled, Report Says Cuomo Campaign Is Trying To Get This Molinaro TV Ad Pulled, Report Says
Cuomo Campaign Is Trying To Get This Molinaro TV Ad Pulled, Report Says Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s re-election campaign has filed a cease-and-desist letter to television stations trying to have his Republican challenger's new ad pulled from the air, claiming it is “false, misleading and defamatory” because the news article cited does not say that Cuomo himself is being probed as part of the Crystal Run investigation. Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, Cuomo's GOP opponent, unveiled the TV ad this past weekend slamming Cuomo of New Castle about corruption convictions involving some top state aides and advisers. “It is false, cheap and nasty,” Cuomo campaign spoke…
Ex-NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced To Prison In Bribery, Money Laundering Retrial Ex-NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced To Prison In Bribery, Money Laundering Retrial
Ex-NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Sentenced To Prison In Bribery, Money Laundering Retrial Former New York State Assembly Speaker Shelton Silver is heading to prison after being found guilty of corruption charges for the second time. Silver, 74, was sentenced to seven years in prison a federal jury decided he used his position to obtain nearly $4 million in bribes in exchange for his official acts. He was also found guilty of obtaining another $1 million through a money laundering scheme. In addition, Silver, a Democrat who represented part of Manhattan, was found guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud, two counts of honest services mail fraud, two counts of extortion …
Corruption Probes Won't Hurt Re-Election Chance, Cuomo Says Corruption Probes Won't Hurt Re-Election Chance, Cuomo Says
Corruption Probes Won't Hurt Re-Election Chance, Cuomo Says t’s not the governor -- just associates and appointees surrounding him. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle continues to distance himself from a federal corruption scandal that has tarnished the reputation of his economic development projects, according to media reports.  Cuomo argues that a series of guilty verdicts won’t hurt his chance of re-election in the fall. “I think there has never been a suggestion that I did anything wrong,” Cuomo said in Brooklyn, according to this article in the New York Post. “Can we do more checks and balances? Yeah, we always can, but you will always have some…
Molinaro Cites 'Quid-Pro-Cuomo' Emails In Bid-Rigging Trial Molinaro Cites 'Quid-Pro-Cuomo' Emails In Bid-Rigging Trial
Molinaro Cites 'Quid-Pro-Cuomo' Emails In Bid-Rigging Trial Secret emails loomed large as communications detailing "Quid-pro-Cuomo" were presented by federal prosecutors at the "Buffalo Billion bid-rigging trial," Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro said in a campaign mailing. The Dutchess County executive, who is running against Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New Castle, was referring to the federal corruption case investigating links between Democratic campaign donations and state-backed developers. A SUNY official on trial for allegedly rigging bids to favor donors to Cuomo on Upstate economic development projects was advis…