United States Attorney Preet Bharara announces charges against nine people, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s former deputy secretary, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in NY.
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As executive deputy secretary to the governor, prosecutors allege, Percoco abused “his official position and extensive influence within the executive branch by seeking and accepting bribe payments from executives at companies that were seeking benefits and business from the state in exchange for use of Percoco’s official authority and influence to benefit those companies”.
The complaint also describes another bid-rigging and bribery arrangement: this one involving State University of NY head Alain Kaloyeros, Buffalo developer-and Cuomo mega-donor-Louis Ciminelli and two executives at Ciminelli’s company.
In a federal complaint, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced Thursday that Joe Percoco and seven others are facing a wide array of criminal charges.
At least nine people, including a former aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, are expected to face charges in connection with a “wide-ranging investigation” into alleged corruption.
“I really do hope that there’s a trial in this case so that all New Yorkers can see in gory detail what their state government has been up to”, Bharara said. He is charged with conspiring to deprive the public of the honest services of a high-level official, as well as conspiracy to commit wire fraud and extortion, and the outright commission of those offenses.
According to prosecutors, Percoco asked for the $315,000 clams from an energy company looking to build a power plant upstate as well as a developer for a state-funded project. Percoco also allegedly got expensive meals and a Hamptons fishing trip. “LOL.” Apparently discussing the wife’s salary, Howe later wrote, “herb – need 7500 boxes of zitti!” Most believed that when Percoco spoke – often admonishing those who disagreed with Cuomo – that he spoke for the governor.
The money came when Percoco was off the state payroll as head of Cuomo’s re-election campaign. Aiello’s son was not charged. It was an email to Percoco about keeping Kelly, the energy guy, happy during a meeting with another key Cuomo aide. Percoco was released on $100,000 bail.
“I hold my administration to the highest level of integrity”, he said. Entrusted with the public’s confidence to effect positive change, I am calling for a comprehensive and meaningful response to these issues. The company also sought Percoco’s help in obtaining millions of dollars in credits for a power plant it was building in New Jersey, the complaint said.
In the second, Kaloyeros allegedly worked with Howe to rig bids so that two real-estate developers got lucrative deals, the complaint says. He had left his post at the state government’s office in January, and Cuomo contends he wasn’t aware of the arrangements Percoco made. A receptionist at the company’s Silver Spring, Md., office said Thursday afternoon that Kelly is still employed at the firm. He said afterward he knew nothing about the allegations in advance.
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“These arrests speak volumes to those who…arrogantly took what was not theirs and who acted without morals and ignored ethics”, he said. We can not say it often enough: “It is the expectation of the public that government officials are not in their positions to self-deal or to serve their personal interests”.
