State Legislators Surrender To Charges Of Corruption

State Senator Karl Kruger and Assemblyman William F. Boyland Jr.are among eight being prosecuted for corruption. The defendants took bribes over the span of a decade on all sorts of cases involving hospitals and liquor stores.

William K. Rashbaum - New York Times

In addition to the lawmakers and the lobbyist, Richard Lipsky, those charged in a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday morning included a real estate developer, two hospital executives, a hospital consultant and a Brooklyn doctor.

Mr. Kruger, wearing a dark suit and overcoat, entered the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in Lower Manhattan about 8:30 a.m. Thursday accompanied by his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman. He said nothing to reporters.

Leaving the building later, Mr. Brafman said, “He’s saddened because he’s one of the most dedicated public servants for the last 25 years with an impeccable reputation.” He added, “This is obviously a difficult day for all of us.”

The complaint, filed by prosecutors from the office of the United States Attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, and based on an investigation by the New York F.B.I. office, charged the men with crimes including bribery, mail and wire fraud and money laundering. In the investigation, the F.B.I. used a bug and taps on the cellphones of Senator Kruger, Mr. Lipsky, one of the other defendants, and State Senator Anthony S. Seminerio, who was convicted of similar corruption charges in 2009 and died in federal prison in January.

The charges were expected to be announced later this morning by Mr. Bharara and the assistant F.B.I. director in charge of the New York F.B.I. office, Jan Fedarcyk.

The complaint accuses Senator Kruger of taking bribes to support hospital mergers and doling out $500,000 in state funds to one of Mr. Lipsky’s clients. It also accuses him of taking bribes to block a big-box store in Brooklyn and work to extend liquor store hours.

Full article at nytimes.com