Dean Skelos, Public Corruption, New York 2015

Former New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam Skelos have been convicted of public corruption charges. The swift convictions of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos beg an important question – how many prosecutions will it take before Albany gives the people of New York the honest government they deserve?

In a shocking turn of events, Dean Skelos, 67, and his son Adam Skelos, 34, were found guilty of numerous counts of public corruption. The charges included extortion under color of official right, solicitation of a bribe, conspiracy to commit extortion, and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.

The verdicts were handed down by a federal jury in Manhattan, New York, after a month-long trial. The charges stem from a scheme in which Dean Skelos used his office to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from a real estate developer and a medical malpractice insurance company. The bribes were funneled to his son, who used them for personal expenses and to pay off loans.

The crimes took place between 2013 and 2015. Skelos was arrested on May 4, 2015, and charged with the above-mentioned crimes. He was found guilty on May 12, 2015.

The Skelos duo is set to be sentenced on October 24, 2018. They face up to 20 years in prison on each count. The exact sentence is yet to be determined. However, given the severity of the crimes, it is likely that they will face significant prison time.

The Skelos case is a stark reminder of the need for honest government in New York. The people of the state deserve better than corruption and extortion at the highest levels of office.

Dean Skelos and his son Adam Skelos are currently out on bail pending sentencing. It is unclear what the future holds for the duo, but one thing is certain – they will face the consequences of their actions in the courtroom.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/statement-manhattan-us-attorney-preet-bharara-convictions-former-new-york-state-senate