Scarborough sentenced to a year in the pokey

From Crains:

A former longtime state assemblyman from New York City has been sentenced to 13 months in jail on federal fraud and theft charges for submitting false expense vouchers for days he didn't actually travel to Albany.

Queens Democrat William Scarborough, who pleaded guilty and resigned his Assembly seat in May, admitted in federal court that he submitted at least $40,000 in false expense vouchers.

Apologizing on Monday, he says this is the result of his own stupidity.

He was also ordered to pay a federal penalty of $54,355.

So who will Scarborough flip on?

From the Observer:

New York State Assemblyman William Scarborough, a Democrat representing Queens, has agreed to enter guilty pleas to state and federal charges related to misusing his campaign funds and state travel reimbursements, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced today.

Mr. Scarborough, 69, will pleaded guilty this morning on the federal charges of wire fraud and theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. This afternoon, he will appear in an Albany court to plead guilty to state charges of grand larceny in the fourth degree related to the misuse of more than $40,000 from his campaign account.

The guilty plea comes just days after Republican State Senate Leader Dean Skelos was charged with using his position and influence to earn cash for his son, Adam Skelos, and months after Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was charged with disguising kickbacks and bribes as outside income. The rash of high-profile Albany corruption cases has spurred calls for ethics reforms, with some changes included in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recently adopted state budget.

As part of the deal, Mr. Scarborough is expected to serve a year in jail for the state charge. He could face up to 20 years in prison on the federal wire fraud charge, and 10 years for the theft charge.

Mr. Scarborough has agreed to resign his position as an Assemblyman, donate his remaining campaign funds to charity, and pay $54,355 in restitution to the state.

Cook coasts...for now

From the NY Post:

She’s the Teflon lawmaker.

Assemblywoman Vivian Cook, a Queens Democrat, skirts on the edge of scandal while her fellow pols have been hauled off to prison.

Her colleague Bill Scarborough is expected to plead guilty this week and resign his seat in a “per diem” travel expense scam. He was accused of submitting more than $40,000 in phony expenses and said last week he had “severe financial problems.”

Cook also racked up thousands in per-diem expenses, including one 12-day stretch in 2010 when she said she was in Albany but didn’t attend any legislative sessions, The Post reported.

Cook, 77, maintains that all of her expenses were legitimate.

“A lot of things do swirl around me, but I’m one of those people — I’ve worked all my life. I haven’t had to ask anybody for any money and I haven’t had to steal,” Cook told The Post last week.

Scarborough to plead guilty

From the Daily News:

Indicted Assemblyman William Scarborough is scheduled to plead guilty May 7 to two felony federal corruption charges, the Daily News has learned.

Scarborough was charged last year in an 11-count indictment by the Albany U.S. attorney's office with improperly claiming taxpayer-funded travel expenses.

As part of the tentative plea deal, Scarborough will cop to one count of improperly receiving money from a program that receives federal funds, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

He'll also plead to a count of wire fraud connected to transmitting of the ill-gotten gains into his bank accounts, the source said.

By pleading guilty to the two felonies, Scarborough will automatically be forced to give up his seat.

It's unclear whether the latest disgraced Albany lawmaker will face prison time.

He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for improperly receiving money from a program that receives federal funds and up to 20 years for the wire fraud charge.

He could also be fined a maximum of $250,000 on each count.

Don't blame Schneiderman

From the Observer:

After yet another lawmaker from southeast Queens faced criminal charges from his office, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman denied today he is taking particular aim at the area.

Mr. Schneiderman, along with State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Northern District U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian, announced the indictment of Assemblyman William Scarborough this afternoon, making Mr. Scarborough the third southeast Queens pol to be arrested following an investigation from Mr. Schneiderman’s office. But Mr. Schneiderman, a Manhattanite, argued he treats all regions equally.

“We’ve brought dozens and dozens of cases and if you ask the people we’ve indicted in Niagara County or in St. Lawrence County or in Elmira or in any other part of the state, I don’t think they’ll tell you that we’re concentrating all our efforts on Queens,” Mr. Schneiderman, a Democrat, told the Observer at a press conference in his Manhattan office.

“We’ve pursued people, town clerks and town supervisors and their cronies all over the State of New York and we will continue to do so,” he added.

The optics of a white Manhattanite indicting black elected officials has set off some grumbling in southeast Queens political circles, even if Mr. Schneiderman has a perfect conviction record there. State Senator James Sanders, Ms. Huntley’s rival in that 2012 race and her successor, raised the possibility last year, with little direct evidence, that prosecutors were unfairly targeting black lawmakers.

Is it Schneiderman's fault that Shirley rolled over on all her friends, and that they all happen to be black?

Another pol arrested...

From WPIX:

New York State assemblyman William Scarborough was arrested by investigators from the attorney general’s office Wednesday morning.

Scarborough, who represents the 29th Assembly District in Southeast Queens, is expected to appear in NYS Court in Albany Wednesday.

In late March, investigators from Attorney General Schneiderman and the FBI raided his Queens district office and Queens home, as well as his Capital office.

Scarborough admitted himself to media that investigators were probing whether he abuses the state’s travel voucher system, which reimburses elected officials for certain work-related expenses.

The attorney general and state comptroller will discuss the developments at 2 p.m.

What Queens lawmakers don't do in Albany

From the Times Ledger:

State Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis) was absent in Albany more than all his colleagues in the chamber, except for Sen. Adriano Espaillat (D-Washington Heights), who was mounting an unsuccessful bid for Congress.

But Smith was among the Senate’s top 10 drafters of resolutions adopted by both houses, the New York Public Interest Research Group’s review of the 2014 state legislative session found.

NYPIRG, a nonpartisan good government group, compiled an analysis of this year’s action in Albany. The report found lawmakers have sent fewer bills to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s desk than any state executive has received in the past century.

Smith was among seven senators who were absent and excused from at least 100 votes in 2014, NYPIRG’s report said.

Smith, who spent part of the session on trial in a federal corruption case, missed 808 votes. This put him directly behind Espaillat, an uptown Manhattan congressional hopeful who was not present during 891 votes.

Smith’s office said they believed his absences all occurred when he was in federal court and on trial for allegedly attempting to bribe his way onto the Republican line in the 2013 mayoral election.

In the Assembly, NYPIRG said four Queens lawmakers were among 18 who missed at least 150 votes, including Assembly members Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) with 275 excuses or absences; Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) with 264; Margaret Markey (D-Maspeth) with 172; and William Scarborough (D-Jamaica) with 168.

No Queens lawmaker made NYPIRG’s lists of Assembly and Senate members who prime sponsored the most legislation that made it through their respective chamber — or both. A prime sponsor is the lawmaker who first backs a measure in his or her house.

But Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) was among 11 senators who prime sponsored at least 150 active bills in 2014, according to the report.

Avella, a member of the Independent Democratic Conference that had split from mainline Democrats and controlled the Senate with Republicans, was only able to get eight of these measures through both chambers, NYPIRG said.

Shirley sprung from the joint and tweeders party

From the Times Ledger:

The Rev. Charles Norris Sr. and Clergy United for Community Empowerment welcomed former state Sen. Shirley Huntley back from prison with a party Tuesday.

Norris said close to 75 people gathered to greet Huntley, who represented Jamaica, Springfield Gardens and St. Albans in Albany, including representatives from U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks’ (D-Jamaica) office and state Assemblyman William Scarborough’s (D-St. Albans) office.

The homecoming bash was held at the Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center.

“It was very well-attended,” Norris said of the event organized by CUCE, a coalition dedicated to empowering African Americans, where the minister serves as executive secretary. “She’s home and that’s good.”

Norris said CUCE was very proud to organize the party and emphasized that Huntley had served her time.

“She doesn’t owe anybody anything,” he said.

Huntley was sentenced to 366 days in prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud in an effort to cover up a scheme she used to pocket more than $87,000 from taxpayers.

But the Federal Bureau of Prison website shows she was released after about 10 months.

Feds investigating Scarborough

From the Daily News:

The FBI raided the Albany office of a Queen state assemblyman Wednesday morning.

Assembly William Scarborough, a Democrat, told reporters the feds and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office are probing whether he abused his Assembly travel expenses.

Scarborough, first elected to the Assembly in 1994, insisted he’s acted legally.

The FBI raided his home in Queens, his district office, his Albany office and his Albany hotel room.

He said they took his records and his smartphone.

The veteran lawmaker in 2012 led the Assembly in putting in for travel expenses known as per diems — $33,986 worth.

Assemblyman William Scarborough led the chamber in putting in for travel expenses.

He has regularly been among the per diem leaders in his chamber.

U.S. Attorney to go after crooked pols' pensions

From the Queens Chronicle:

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York is upping the ante in his fight against political corruption in the state, telling the governor’s Moreland Commission that his office will start going after the pensions of public officials who are convicted of crimes.

And an unscientific survey of elected officials from Queens elicited that legal changes and legal challenges will be forthcoming.

Speaking before the commission at Pace University in Manhattan on Sept. 17, Preet Bharara said his aim is a simple one.

“Convicted politicians should not grow old comfortably cushioned by a pension paid for by the very people they betrayed in office,” Bharara said in a copy of his testimony released by his office.

The commission was appointed this past summer by Gov. Cuomo following a spate of corruption charges against state and city officials in the preceding months.

“I understand the sentiment — people should not be rewarded for bad acts,” Assemblyman Bill Scarborough (D-Jamaica) said. “I think the United States Attorney will move forward, and I think there will be a legal test where this will be determined.”

Published reports quote Gov. Cuomo as saying there may be state constitutional concerns with Bharara’s proposal, a concern Scarborough shares.

Scarborough and state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who said he is in favor of the idea, also believe that a 2011 law aimed at those elected after that year may be unclear in regard to Bharara’s efforts.

“If it’s not in existing legislation, I’ll introduce it,” Avella said. “Again, only if you are convicted. It’s absolutely a disgrace that you can abuse the public trust and still get a pension.” He said private pensions earned by those same individuals should not be subject to any bill he puts forth.

Pols collect extra money for not showing up

From the NY Post:

Claiming she spent a marathon 12 consecutive days in Albany on “legislative business,” Queens Assemblywoman Vivian Cook pocketed $171 for each reported overnight stay — a total $2,197 in taxpayer money from March 21 to April 1, 2010.

The Legislature was in session just three of those days — and Cook was absent for all three, records show.

“Me? You’re kidding! No! I didn’t do that,” she told The Post.

“I don’t lie, I don’t cheat, and I don’t steal,” said Cook, whose nonprofit Rockaway Boulevard Local Development Corp. prompted an investigation for allegedly misusing taxpayer funds.

In 2010 and 2011, Cook collected a total $17,035 in daily and overnight stipends, plus other travel expenses — on top of her $79,500-a-year state salary. During the 2010 legislative session, she missed 51 meetings of the Assembly, 63 percent of the sessions.

“I was sick for a very long time,” she said of her absences, but could not recall the dates.

She’s one of scores of legislators who claim more than $10,000 a year in “per diems” — a daily payment lawmakers can collect if they sleep over in Albany or travel more than 50 miles from home on legislative business.

The sleepovers add up. The Assembly and the Senate have socked taxpayers with more than $32 million in travel-related expenses in the past decade.

In one case, Queens Assemblyman Bill Scarborough submitted vouchers claiming $825 for spending five nights in a row in Albany: Sunday, March 13 to Thursday, March 17, 2011.

That Thursday, he attended a town meeting from 6 to 9 p.m. at York College in Jamaica, Queens, according to news accounts. Jamaica is three hours from Albany by car.

“I may very well have gone to that meeting, turned around and gone back to Albany that night,” Scarborough said. “If we arrive in Albany before midnight, we’re entitled to put in for the night.”

Scarborough, chairman of the Assembly’s Small Business Committee, said he attended meetings before going home again on Friday.

He was not required to submit any hotel receipts, and told The Post it was too long ago to look for one.

“I don’t think I have to give you proof,” he said.

In 2010 and 2011, Scarborough racked up $59,085 in per diem payments, plus other travel expenses.

Assemblyman under fire for tweeding

From NBC:

A Queens lawmaker has been organizing out-of-state gambling trips for hundreds of seniors citizens, which has raised eyebrows among good government groups because the trips are funded by corporate donations.

State Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-Jamaica) solicited about $4,000 in donations for his latest trip in August. The money came from Consolidated Edison, Regal Recycling, Health First, and the Amalgamated Transit Union.

The money paid for round-trip, chartered buses and lunch for the elderly Queens residents.

Nonprofits that monitor government ethics have criticized the concept, concluding it looks more like a self-promotional campaign event rather than a community service for seniors.

Remember back in September when I highlighted this very issue.

Grandmother's mold eliminated by volunteer

City wants grandmother to live with mold until 2019

DEP asked to pump water in southeastern Queens

From the Times Ledger:

The recent deluge of rain and subsequent flooding in southeast Queens have prompted state Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-St. Albans) to step up his calls on the city to expedite its plans to restart the water pumps that he said would alleviate the problem.

Scarborough toured the streets of St. Albans during the weekend of Sept. 3 and said many homeowners were struggling to deal with the water creeping into their basements and damaging their property. The assemblyman said the only solution is for the city Department of Environmental Protection to accelerate its plans to pump out the groundwater under the homes and lower the water table.

Tweeding 101: Funding trips to Atlantic City!

From the Times Ledger:

The first event for the week will be a Sept. 10 health fair at York College hosted by the nonprofit community activist group Greater Queens Chapter of the Links. Seniors who attend the free fair can take part in blood, HIV, prostate, cholesterol and other screenings, according to the Links.

That same day City Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) and state Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica) will be having their annual Banner Day and Gospel Fest at Baisley Pond Park.

“Every day should be senior day,” Cook said.

On Sept. 12, Smith and Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) will be having two separate luncheons for senior citizens. On Sept. 14, Meeks will host an afternoon at the movies at the Jamaica Multiplex Theatre on Jamaica Avenue at noon.

The next day, Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) will be holding an informational fair and Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) will be holding a Zumba Fitness exercise class.

Her fellow Assembly member, William Scarborough (D-St. Albans), will be offering elders a treat with a trip to Atlantic City that day, too.

Squalid conditions at Jamaica building

From the Times Ledger:

Hundreds of residential tenants in two Jamaica buildings have been suffering through wretched conditions for years, and now they and elected officials are trying to find out who exactly has been letting the problems fall through the cracks.

City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and state Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-St. Albans) toured several rooms inside the apartment building at 109-15 and 109-25 Merrick Blvd., last Thursday morning after several apartment dwellers sent them complaints about their living conditions.

Both leaders were in shock as they walked through floors that were broken up, saw walls covered with mold, peeling paint and holes and gazed at ceilings that caved in during last week’s rainstorms.