Sheldon Silver, Public Corruption, New York 2023

Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been handed a stiff sentence for his crimes. On June 9, 2023, U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni sentenced Silver to 7 years in federal prison for using his official position to obtain nearly $4 million in bribes in exchange for his official acts and obtaining another $1 million through laundering the proceeds of his crimes.

Silver was found guilty a second time by a federal jury of using his official power and influence as an elected legislator and the Speaker of the Assembly to obtain unlawful income. This is a far cry from the oath he took when he assumed his powerful position at the top of New York State government.

According to the evidence introduced at trial, court filings, and statements made in Manhattan federal court, Silver used his immense power – including his power over the real estate industry and his control over certain health care funding – to unlawfully and corruptly enrich himself.

Among other things, Silver unlawfully solicited and obtained client referrals worth millions of dollars in exchange for his official acts, and attempted to disguise this money as legitimate outside income earned from his work as a private lawyer. He claimed, on financial disclosure forms required to be filed with New York State and in public statements, that the millions of dollars he received in outside income while also serving as Speaker of the Assembly came from a Manhattan-based law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C.

The schemes provided Silver with two different streams of unlawful income: (i) approximately $700,000 in kickbacks Silver received by steering two real estate developers with business before the state legislature to a law firm with which he was associated, and (ii) more than $3 million in asbestos client referral fees Silver received by, among other official acts, awarding $500,000 in state grants to a university research center of a physician who referred patients made ill by asbestos to Weitz & Luxenberg.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said, “When he assumed his powerful position at the top of New York State government, Sheldon Silver took an oath to do the work of the people. Instead, he leveraged his tremendous influence to pad his bank account and line his pockets. Sheldon Silver has been given a lengthy sentence of seven years in federal prison. We hope today’s fittingly stiff sentence sends a clear message: brokering official favors for your personal benefit is illegal and will result in prison time.”

Defendant: Sheldon Silver

Criminal Charges: Using his official position to obtain nearly $4 million in bribes in exchange for his official acts and obtaining another $1 million through laundering the proceeds of his crimes.

City and State: New York

Exactly Date: June 9, 2023

Sentence: 7 years in federal prison

Dollar Amounts: $4 million, $1 million, $700,000, $3 million, $500,000

Company/Entity: Weitz & Luxenberg P.C.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/former-new-york-state-assembly-speaker-sheldon-silver-sentenced-7-years-prison