NEW YORK, NY – Joseph Percoco, the former Executive Deputy Secretary to the Governor of New York, is facing serious time after being convicted today of accepting over $315,000 in bribes. The eight-week trial revealed a calculated scheme where Percoco sold his influence within the state government to benefit energy giant Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) and Syracuse-based real estate developer COR Development. Steven Aiello, a COR executive, was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery, signaling a deeper rot within the state’s dealings.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman didn’t mince words, stating: “Joseph Percoco was found guilty of taking over $300,000 in cash bribes by selling something priceless that was not his to sell – the sacred obligation to honestly and faithfully serve the citizens of New York. As every schoolchild knows, but he corruptly chose to disregard, government officials who sell their influence to select insiders violate the basic tenets of a democracy.” Berman vowed continued pursuit of such “offensive misconduct.”
The evidence presented painted a picture of blatant abuse of power. Between January 2012 and mid-2014, and again in 2015, PERCOCO leveraged his high-ranking position to solicit bribes from companies desperate for favorable treatment from the state. These weren’t simple donations; they were direct quid pro quo exchanges for official action. He worked through cooperating witness Todd Howe, who acted as a conduit between the companies and Percoco’s demands.
The “ziti” code, a reference to money ripped from the HBO series The Sopranos, wasn’t just colorful slang. It represented the cold, calculated nature of the scheme. CPV, seeking critical state approvals for projects in New Jersey and New York, funneled over $287,000 to Percoco. This included creating a no-show job for Percoco’s wife, paying her $90,000 a year while requiring minimal effort. CPV executives, including Peter Galbraith Kelly Jr., saw it as a necessary investment to secure a valuable emissions credit agreement and a lucrative long-term power purchase agreement worth an estimated $100 million in savings.
The payments were intentionally obscured, routed through consultants to disguise their true source. This wasn’t a matter of innocent oversight, but a deliberate attempt to conceal corruption. Percoco, facing personal financial difficulties, readily accepted the illicit funds. The jury clearly saw through the smoke and mirrors, finding him guilty of betraying the public trust. Aiello’s conviction alongside Percoco suggests a coordinated effort, with multiple players complicit in the scheme.
The fallout from this case is likely to extend beyond Percoco and Aiello. Investigators will undoubtedly scrutinize the actions of CPV and COR Development, as well as other individuals potentially involved in the bribery scheme. This conviction serves as a stark reminder that even those at the highest levels of government are not above the law, and that selling influence comes with a steep price.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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