Norman Seabrook, Bribery, New York 2018

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman announced the conviction of Norman Seabrook, President of Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, for taking a $60,000 bribe to invest $20 million of his union members' money in a fund that ultimately went belly-up, losing $19 million. The conviction is the fifth major public corruption conviction by the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office in as many months.

The investigation, which began in 2015, revealed that Seabrook had accepted a $60,000 bribe from a hedge fund manager to invest $20 million of the union's money in a private investment fund called Platinum Partners. The fund ultimately collapsed, resulting in a loss of $19 million for the union and its members.

'Norman Seabrook was once one of the most powerful union leaders in this City. Today he stands convicted of taking a $60,000 bribe to invest $20 million of his union members' money in a fund that ultimately went belly-up, losing $19 million,' said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman. 'Seabrook's is the fifth major public corruption conviction by our Office in as many months.'

The conviction is a result of the hard work and dedication of the FBI agents and prosecutors who worked on this case. Martin Bell, Lara Pomerantz, and Russell Capone, the chief of the public corruption unit, were instrumental in bringing Seabrook to justice.

The charges against Seabrook include one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud. The case is being prosecuted by the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office and is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

Defendant: Norman Seabrook

Criminal Charges: One count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud

City and State: Manhattan, New York

Exact Date: The case began in 2015 and the conviction was announced in 2018

Sentence or Outcome: Convicted, with sentencing to be determined at a later date

Dollar Amounts: $20 million, the amount of union money invested in the private investment fund; $19 million, the amount lost by the union and its members; $60,000, the bribe accepted by Seabrook

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/statement-manhattan-us-attorney-geoffrey-s-berman-conviction-norman-seabrook-president