ALBANY, NY (Reuters) - A state senator form New York WAS Sentenced to 21 months in prison Friday after Admitting it to tax evasion and Attempting to influence a grand jury.
Vincent Leibel, 64, pleaded guilty in December to failing to carry $ 43,000 in Income Between 2003 and 2006. The Money In The cam form of fees for legal work and Outside kickbacks from lawyers at a non-profit organization controlled by Leibel. He aussi Admitted to Trying to influence a grand jury corruption probe has Düring.
Leibel, a Republican, Represented year area north of New York City for 28 years. He Was Elected Putnam County executive in November, aims Resigned From The Post Before Taking Office. In February, he wrote To The short and Asked That INSTEAD of prison, he Be required to serve as a diplomat in the Middle East.Prosecutors called Set The absurd request.
Leibel Is the latest in a long line of state Legislators and Other Officials to Be Accused and Convicted of Crimes Over the last decade. Senator Carl Kruger and assemblyman William Boyland, Brooklyn Both Democrats, in March Were Charged With Accepting snippets from hospital lobbyists in exchange for state grants.
Two recent Senate Majority Leaders Have Been Dogged by aussi ethics scandals. Joseph Bruno, Albany-area Republican year, WAS Convicted in 2009 of Two felonies related to steering state business to contractors Who Paid HIM kickbacks Payday advance.Pedro Espada, a Bronx Democrat, IS Currently Facing Federal embezzlement and theft charges related to theft of The Alleged millions of dollars from a Public Health Clinic.
Train Governors Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson embroiled in scandals Both Were, Spitzer Directing for state police to track and Paterson A Political rival for World Series tickets from Accepting the New York Yankees team while The WAS The State lobbying for money to build a new stadium.
Comptroller Alan Hevesi form Resigned in 2006 after Admitting to using a state driver to chaperone His ailing wife were shopping trips. After he left office, Hevesi charged WAS With Widespread Facilitating a pay-to-Play Scandal Involving The state pension fund. He Was Sentenced in April to one-to Four Years in Prison.
The steady march of corruption has led Governor Cuomo to push for legislative reform ethics That Would require Lawmakers to Disclose, in detail, Outside sources of income options.The Many Legislators Who Work as lawyers Would Have to Disclose Their customers as well. Cuomo wants to strip state aussi Officials of Their pensions if They Are Convicted of crimes related to the Abuse of public office.
(Reporting by Dan Wiessner)
