Pass the ziti

Cuomo insiders charged in federal corruption case
By Chris Bragg and Matthew Hamilton Thursday, September 22, 2016

Federal prosecutors brought corruption charges against top state government insiders and business development executives Thursday, scorching Gov. Andrew Cuomo's hallmark upstate economic initiatives.

The investigation is the most serious corruption crisis to face Cuomo's administration, which since its inception in 2011 has pointed to the words printed on a custom-made pin given to all staffers: performance, integrity and pride. Not only is Percoco, who left the administration in 2015 to take a job as senior vice president for the Madison Square Garden Co., a longtime friend of Cuomo — once described by the governor as "my father's third son" — the case touches on two of his hallmark upstate initiatives: the Buffalo Billion and nanotechnology-driven development.

The complaint alleges that Howe arranged for more than $315,000 in bribe payments to go to Percoco and his wife, Lisa Toscano-Percoco, who is not named in the complaint. Howe and Percoco repeatedly referred to the alleged bribe money as "ziti," the complaint says — a code word for money apparently lifted from an episode of HBO's mafia drama "The Sopranos," Bharara said. 

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Former NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver sentenced to 12 years in prison

politio.com

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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued this statement following the sentencing:

“Today’s decision sent a simple message that officials who abuse the public’s trust will be held accountable. Justice was served.”

Who says crime doesn't pay?

Sheldon Silver's pension is official: $6,600 a month

ALBANY -- He was convicted and tossed from office, but former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is still getting his pension: $6,602 a month.

Silver's pension comes to $79,224 a year, according to the final calculation from the state Comptroller's Office.

Silver, D-Manhattan, the speaker from 1994 through January 2015, put in for his retirement on Dec. 1 -- just days after he was convicted on corruption charges in federal court.

Skelos, son guilty on all charges

Former Senate leader falls less than two weeks after Silver verdict

By Matthew Hamilton Updated 2:30 pm, Friday, December 11, 2015 Times Union

Former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son were found guilty on all eight federal charges stemming from the lawmaker's efforts to secure income and benefits for his 33-year-old son, Adam, from politically connected businesses.

Two additional charges of extortion and solicitation of bribes related to Adam Skelos' no-show employment by a medical malpractice insurance company, a job secured at the request of his father, were added in a superseding indictment handed down in July.

Some of the most damning evidence against the father and son were drawn from wiretaps.

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The company you keep

Cuomo: Skelos Conviction Should Be a ‘Wakeup Call’ for the Legislature

By Ross Barkan • 12/11/15 3:40pm OBSERVER News

In the brief statement, Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, also said the conviction of Mr. Skelos, along with former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver last month, “should be a wakeup call” for lawmakers.

“There can be no tolerance for those who use, and seek to use, public service for private gain. The justice system worked today,” Mr. Cuomo said.
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One down!

Sheldon Silver, Ex-NYS Assembly Speaker: Guilty on All Counts

By BENJAMIN WEISER and SUSANNE CRAIG NOV. 30, 2015

After a five-week trial in Federal District Court in Manhattan, the end came rather quickly and unceremoniously for Mr. Silver, 71, a Democrat who served more than two decades as Assembly speaker before he was forced to resign from the post after his arrest in January.

Money and influence shape public policy for the benefit of private agendas

The speaker of the New York State Assembly, Sheldon Silver, was arrested on federal corruption charges on Thursday and accused of using the power of his office for more than a decade to secure millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks and then covering up his schemes, according to court documents.