In addition to facing federal charges, a State University of NY college president also was indicted Thursday on three state charges, alleging that he steered contracts to campaign donors of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and solicited grants and loans that padded his own pocket.
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These charges can’t be reconciled with Dr. Kaloyeros’ robust leadership of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Fort Schuyler and Fuller Road. “The news of charges being filed against SUNY Polytechnic Institute President Alain Kaloyeros is of great disappointment to the students of the SUNY system”.
A day earlier, he was charged separately on one count of federal corruption, including bid-rigging for the development of SolarCity’s RiverBend facility in Buffalo.
“The charges filed today outline a blatant and brazen abuse of taxpayer dollars and the public trust”, Schneiderman said.
The former SUNY Poly president and CEO targeted by prosecutors in a wide-reaching corruption probe appeared in Albany city court on Friday.
Schneiderman accused Kaloyeros of improperly using the state bidding process to award contracts from SUNY Poly to companies of his choice. Nicolla is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday (Sept. 26). Kaloyeros colluded with Columbia to give the company an unfair competitive advantage in the bidding process for the project, the complaint alleges. “We will work actively with Chancellor Zimpher and Chairman McCall to ensure that the students attending SUNY Polytechnic are not adversely affected by any of the events that ensue”.
If Kaloyeros is in fact convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 4 to 12 years in prison. In a complaint unsealed Thursday, Bharara said Kaloyeros retained political consultant Todd Howe to rig the bidding process for two developers in Buffalo and Syracuse.
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“Effective immediately and until this matter is resolved, Dr. Kaloyeros has been suspended without pay”.
