Dean Skelos, Corruption Offenses, New York 2023

Corruption Runs Deep in Albany: A Manhattan federal jury delivered a damning verdict against former New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam Skelos for abusing their official positions to collect over $300,000 in bribes and extortion payments.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Dean Skelos, who served as Majority Leader and Co-Majority Leader of the New York State Senate from 2011 to 2015, repeatedly used his power to pressure companies with business before New York State to make payments to his son Adam Skelos in exchange for official actions and legislation favorable to those companies.

The scheme was uncovered and brought to justice by a dedicated team of federal investigators and prosecutors. As U.S. Attorney Robert Khuzami noted, 'Yet again, a New York jury heard a sordid tale of bribery, extortion, and the abuse of power by a powerful public official of this State. And yet again, a jury responded with a unanimous verdict of guilt, in this case of Dean Skelos and his son Adam – sending the resounding message that political corruption will not be tolerated.'

The jury's verdict marked the second time that Dean Skelos and Adam Skelos have been found guilty of corruption offenses, following a five-week trial before U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood. The defendants' previous convictions were overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 2018, but the Supreme Court's decision in McDonnell v. United States did not apply to this case.

The convictions are a testament to the commitment of law enforcement and prosecutors to rooting out corruption and holding public officials accountable for their actions. As the case demonstrates, corruption can run deep in the halls of power, but justice will always prevail.

Mandatory Facts: Defendant: Dean Skelos and Adam Skelos; Criminal Charges: Bribery, Extortion, Honest Services Fraud; City and State: New York; Date: Not specified; Sentence or Outcome: Not specified; Dollar Amounts: $300,000.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-new-york-state-senate-majority-leader-dean-skelos-and-his-son-adam-skelos