Posted on 10/07/2010 3:40:20 PM PDT by Fitzy_888
New York City -- Alan Hevesi walked into a Manhattan courthouse Thursday morning a convicted felon and left and admitted felon, times two. The former New York State Comptroller confessed to accepting nearly a million dollars in benefits and in return, he funneled state pension funds towards the companies behind those gifts.
According to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the agency leading the pay-to-play investigation--the payoffs included:
--$75,000 in travel expenses for the Hevesi family
--$380,000 in sham consulting fees for a lobbyist friend
--more than $500,000 in campaign contributions as directed by Hevesi.
As NYS Comptroller from 2003-2006, Hevesi was the sole trustee to the pension fund. Which is, according to Blair Horner of the New York State Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), a flaw in the structure of the office.
"This latest episode will draw attention to the issue and there will be effort to change the system," explains Horner.
New York is one of only a handful of states that doesn't have an external board or commission whose job it is to oversee the pension investments and the Comptroller.
"A panel does not guarantee there won't be problems. But generally speaking the more eyeballs on a situation the less problems you will have," adds Horner.
Since Hevesi's resignation in 2006 after a felony plea for using NYS employees to chauffeur his wife, current Comptroller Tom DiNapoli claims he has worked to ensure transparency by:
--establishing an internal board to monitor the pension fund
--banning lobbyist involvement with the pension fund
--and prohibiting pay to play campaign contributions
Hevesi avoided prison time for the first felony but he faces up to 4 years behind bars for this most recent crime.
-- VS --
Today, a New York State Department of Health employee is facing felony larceny charges; accused of using state-issued credit cards to shop, totaling $7,900.
They promise to prosecute her to the full extent of the law!!! And, they will.
You know the crooks are big time demcorat party members, since the media never, ever, ever will mention party affiliation.
Wonder how lucrative his stay was as NYC Comptroller 1994-2002. This creep was also big time pal and neighbor to Geraldine Ferraro.
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