Assmblyman Anthony S. Seminerio Indicted
by kace
Posted on December 11, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/nyregion/11indict.html?ref=nyregionA federal grand jury indicted a state assemblyman on Wednesday, charging that he effectively put his legislative office up for sale by demanding cash payments for delivering state business.
A criminal complaint filed in September alleged a bold fraud scheme in which the assemblyman, Anthony S. Seminerio, incorporated his own consulting firm to conceal the illegal payments. On Wednesday, a grand jury found enough evidence to indict Mr. Seminerio on one count of mail fraud “to solicit and receive a stream of corrupt payments.”
The indictment makes claims of fraud that is more extensive than outlined in a complaint in September. The complaint accused the assemblyman of receiving about $500,000 from hospitals and other entities that had business before the state from 2000 through this year. The indictment, however, said that Mr. Seminerio received about $1 million. In exchange, the indictment said, Mr. Seminerio rewarded the businesses by arranging “favorable treatment.”
Mr. Seminerio, 73, would face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.