Preet Bharara’s Big Fish in Westchester Corruption—Al Pirro

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara

Al Pirro

 

                The recent New York Times story written by Benjamin Weiser speaks volumes about where U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara is taking his case of political corruption in Westchester County.  And while there is currently a trial in Federal Court in lower Manhattan to determine whether former Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi sold her votes on the council for cash, and whether former Yonkers GOP Chairman Zehy Jereis provided her that cash for her vote, the bigger bust and the indictments of much larger Fish in the pool of Westchester politics is yet to come.

                Weiser’s story highlights Al Pirro, Westchester lobbyist, dealmaker, and husband of former District Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Pirro is not charged in the Annabi-Jereis bribery trial, but Weiser explains how Pirro was orchestrating the lobbying effort by Forest City Ratner to win approval to build their Ridge Hill Village development project.

                                “During a meeting with one council member, Mr. Pirro turned the conversation to how others on the Council might vote, according to a prosecution account described in a judge’s ruling released late Tuesday; when it came to assessing one member, Sandy Annabi, he showed no hesitation, the account continued,” writes Weiser.

“He was confident, according to the same account, that he could win her vote by giving a job to one of her friends, Zehy Jereis, then the chairman of the Yonkers Republican Party. “I am not worried about Sandy Annabi,” Mr. Pirro was quoted as saying to Dennis Robertson, then a councilman. “We will just give Zehy a consulting contract, and we will get her vote.”  Why did Weiser choose to focus on Al Pirro?

                If you had to name the two most powerful figures in Westchester politics during the period of 1995-2005, I would name Nick Spano and Al Pirro.  Nick Spano is now cooperating with Federal authorities, after pleading guilty to income tax evasion for a period of 2001-2005?? Verify

                While many are concerned that Spano’s deal lets him ‘get off’ only with the tax charges, if you read the plea agreement and press releases on the Spano deal, it paints a different picture.

                Prosecutors showed us three examples of Spano hiding his income received from a consulting contract-$480,000; a real estate commission-$45,000; and rental income-xxx—get it . But there are many other cases of Nick Spano hiding his income over the 1990’s and 2000’s

                The plea agreement also does not preclude the US Attorney from charging Spano with other offenses. In order to steer clear of any other charges, and serve his sentence quickly and return to Westchester, Spano needs to stay in the good graces of our Federal Government.

                Spano spent tens thousands of dollars —look on the blog for it —on legal bills-to the law firm Levitt & Kaizer, in 2010 and 2011—before he was ever charged with a crime. We can now assume that these legal bills where for the many conversations that Spano’s attorney Richard Levitt, had with the Feds concerning what Nick would plead guilty to and what he could give the Feds in exchange for leniency.

                Nick Spano had to explain his role in ‘everything’ that happened in Westchester politics over a 20 year period.  If he is caught in a lie, more charges, and a longer jail sentence will be coming his way.

                US Attorney Preet Bharara is now a national figure. From the front page of Time Magazine, Bharara is now playing the role of crime buster-like Rudy Giuliani, Elliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo played. 

                Here in Westchester, Bharara needs a big fish. And if Bharara agreed to give Nick Spano a deal-Nick would have to give up someone bigger than him. And that person, we believe, is Al Pirro.

                Al Pirro was the Godfather of Westchester politics, the courts, and developments projects throughout the county. Al Pirro is a bigger fish than Nick Spano, because of his famous ex-spouse-Jeanine Pirro.

                A wiretap in a Federal  Organized crime case has Mo Sanginiti talking about a payment of $50,000 to “The Italian Executive.”   For years, many have wondered who the Italian Executive was. Was it Andy Spano? Was it Nick Spano? (No relation).We believe that it’s Al Pirro.

                Al plead guilty to tax evasion charges back in 2000, and served 11 months in Club Fed.  He then returned to his role as Westchester dealmaker, including  his work on the Ridge Hill project.

                Al took the blame for the tax returns signed by both Al and Jeannie. But that was when they were married. The question now becomes will Al keep quiet about all of the bedroom deals and conversations made between Mr. and Mrs. Pirro in the 90’s and 2000’s. Will Al take the hit again? Or is there too much water under the bridge.

                The Biggest Fish in the Pool of Westchester political corruption is Jeanine Pirro. Now a TV star in Hollywood—if US Attorney Bharara has both the will, and the evidence to take down our former DA-he makes history.

                Al Pirro is only mentioned in the Ridge Hill case to prove that Annabi could and would sell her vote.  But Zehy Jereis was working with Al for years in Westchester, and Al and Annabi were also close.

                One more item—Jereis’ attorney claimed in his opening statement that the reason Jereis gave Annabi money, and lots of it–$160,000 over several years, was not because of illegal politics, but because of love.

                This is a ludicrous claim that the jury should not believe. Having covered both Jereis and Annabi for years, here’s what I have heard and seen.  

I-The word on Jereis and Annabi were that they were cousins, both coming from the same family in Jordan, with both admitting that they were distantly related.

II- Jereis has bragged about his ability to influence the vote of his cousin, and used that supposed influence to gain favor and jobs-primarily the $60,000 consulting job he got from Forest City Ratner.

III-Annabi had her romantic sights set on others. She enjoyed using her beauty and flirtatious ways to win favor, but never used it publicly towards Jereis when the two were together.

                The last chance for  deal in this case will come on Tuesday, before the first witness, former Councilwoman Dee Barbato takes the stand. Several councilmembers will take the stand to set the stage for star witness Anthony Mangone. The Councilmembers will highlight Annabi’s opposition to the Ridge Hlll development project in the weeks before she switched her vote. Once the first witness takes the stand, all deals are off.

                Annabi attorney Bill Aronwald appears ready, willing and able to try this case, and let the government attempt to prove the Quid Pro Quo—that any money given to Annabi directly correlated to her vote for Ridge Hill.

                Many believe that either Annabi is innocent, or it will be difficult or impossible for the Feds to prove the case against her. Let’s see what happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Spano’s Fall From Grace on Eve of Annabi Corruption Trial

Nick Spano

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Spano, a legendary figure in Yonkers politics for decades, pled guilty last week in Federal Court in Tax Evasion. Spano, a State Senator for 20 years and the former head of the Westchester Republican Party, admitted to underreporting hundreds of thousands of dollars he earned as a consultant. “Today is obviously not a good day for me or my family, but I want to be honest and open about it,” said Spano outside the White Plains courthouse.

“ I did not pay all the income taxes that I should have. For this I am sorry and I take full responsibility. I apologize to anyone I have let down, and I look forward to making this right in the eyes of the court.” Spano was charged and then pled guilty to the tax evasion charge in a hastily called court appearance last Friday, coming as a shock to many. Rumors have been circulating for months that Spano could be a target of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s investigation of political corruption in Westchester. But Spano only pled guilty to the tax charges, and was not charged with any other offenses.

Like another State Senator who recently fell from grace, Vinny Leibell, Spano was able to plead to only the tax charges by providing prosecutors with information about their ongoing investigations. What Spano has shared with the FBI is unknown. The charges against Spano points to payments made to Spano by two consulting clients that Spano did not report as income. In 1993, while a State Senator, Spano was hired by White Plains Insurance Company Professional Risk Managers, PRM. Spano received monthly payments from PRM that started out at $1,500 per month and rose to $8,333 per month for a total of $480,000 over a 5 year period. In 1996 PRM was awarded a State Contract by the NY Office of General Services, OGS. Nick Spano’s brother John Spano was the Deputy Commissioner for OGS at the time of the award. John Spano has not been charged.

Nick Spano also failed to report a $45,000 real estate commission he received for the sale of a White Plains property. He also admitted to not reporting rental income from a Yonkers house he owned. Spano sentencing is in June and could be charged with 1-3 years in jail, or probation. His plea agreement does not preclude the U.S. Attorney from charging Spano with additional crimes.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “Former Senator Nicholas Spano is the latest in a regrettably long line of lawmakers turned lawbreakers. When elected officials put padding their pockets above the law, they tarnish our government and undermine people’s faith in their public servants. We will not tolerate this conduct and will continue to aggressively prosecute those who engage in it.”

Spano’s Felony guilty plea comes days before the trial of former City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi, which began this week. Annabi is charged with accepting $167,000 worth of bribes from her cousin, ex-Yonkers Republican Chairman Zehy Jereis, between 2004 and 2006 that benefitted two developers, Milio Management and Forest City Ratner. Franco and Anthony Milio, have pled guilty to tax evasion charges and are also expected to testify in the case. Jereis, the former Yonkers GOP Chairman and Nick Spano protégé will stand trial with Annabi.

Mangone has already pleaded guilty last year and is an expected witness at the trial. Annabi and Jereis attorneys tried to get the trial adjourned because of the Nick Spano developments, but were denied by Judge Colleen McMahon. How long Spano has been cooperating with the Feds is also unknown. Spano’s attorney Richard Levitt, and his law firm, has been paid tens of thousands of dollars over the past two years to represent Spano, who was not charged with a crime until last Friday. The legal bills were paid for out of Spano’s still active campaign account.

Levitt said outside the courthouse, “When he asked for our help Nick Spano was clear that he would take full responsibility for any wrongdoing, but that he would also fight any allegations that were untrue. Today he has done that by agreeing to a resolution with the U.S. Attorney that ends these matters by acknowledging a failure to properly report income. The amount of unpaid taxes is not insignificant, but it is also not the type of offense that normally brings this much attention. “

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, Nick’s brother, is expected to testify at the Annabi trial because he was a consultant for Forest City Ratner, the developers of Ridge Hill Village in Yonkers. Mayor Spano served in the Assembly for 8 years, then stepped aside to serve as a consultant for two years, and then returned to the Assembly until being elected Mayor last year. Mayor Spano said, “I’m glad to see that Nick has come to terms with his tax issue and has taken responsibility. He’s my brother but he has to deal with this, and I have no doubt he will.”

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said, “I think everyone should be ashamed of what he (Nick Spano) did.”

 Former Councilman John Murtagh, who ran against Mike Spano for Mayor last year said, — “What happened to Nick Spano is unfortunate because of the negative affect it has on the public’s faith about our government and the integrity of elected officials. But what is more unfortunate is that its distracting to Yonkers when the economy is turning around, and Yonkers needs to bring in more development to help close a projected $75 Million budget shortfall, and the school system need dramatic reforms. Anything that distracts the public, and makes them more cynical about government, is a huge problem.

The New York Post called Nick Spano-Albany’s Favorite Felon, based on the fact that he can continue to serve as a lobbyist in New York State despite being convicted of a felony But his biggest client,Genting International Resorts and Casinos, will no longer use Spano as a lobbyist, according to published reports. Spano was paid $25,000 per month to represent Genting which operates the Video Lottery Terminals as Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Wall Street Journal reporter James Campbell reported the following new developments. “Prosecutors said in court papers they intend to show Mr. Jereis and another Spano associate, disbarred attorney Anthony Mangone, participated in a 2006 scheme to bribe a potential challenger to the senator with $10,000. The unidentified candidate was to run against Mr. Spano in the Independence Party primary, according to court papers. It isn’t clear from court documents if the alleged bribe was paid. “They also allege that Mr. Spano arranged a no-show consultant job for Mr. Jereis with the Yonkers Chamber of Commerce between April 2006 and June 2007. Prosecutors claim the job was set up after Mr. Mangone told Mr. Jereis “he would have to leave the senator’s government payroll because Jereis had become too controversial,” according to court papers. “In addition to the bribery charges against the pair, Ms Annabi is also charged with making false statements to banks on loan applications and filing false tax returns in 2005 and 2006.”

Nick Spano Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

 

Nick Spano

Former State Senator, and Westchester Republican Chairman Nick Spano surprised everyone today by appearing in Federal Court in White Plains two times. In the morning Spano appeared to be arraigned on Tax Evasion charges. In the afternoon, Spano returned to plead guility to same charges.

Many believe that Nick Spano is now, or has been, cooperating with the Feds. This would explain his multi-thousand dollar legal bill that he paid prior to being charged and pleading guilty today. Nick was also spared many other charges, in the minds of many, by the US Attorney, in exchange for his cooperation. One legal insider told Rising —”For Nick to get this kind of a deal, he must have handed them everything that happened over the past 20 years and some big fish, bigger than NIck himself.”

Who could that be—Al & Jeannie Pirro??? A Judge or two???

Nick probably also coroborated the tales on Anthony Mangone, and/or Zehy Jereis.

Was it NIck who helped the Feds with his old friend Vinny Leibell-or did Vinny turn on Nick??

Will NIck testify at the trial of Sandy Annabi, set to begin next week, or will Sandy take a plea at the last minute, a strategy that seems to have backfired now that Spano tells all.

Will NIck be charged with other crimes?

Will Mayor Mike Spano be charged with any crimes? or did NIck make sure to keep Mike out of harm’s way?

In another interesting development, we hear that Forest City Ratner former VP Bruce Bender is talking about his role in swaying votes in Yonkers.

Finally, Nick’s guilty plea confims what many on this blog had believed for some time. And we await the next bomb that US Attorney Preeh Bharara is about to drop in Westchester County, providing many with some sleepless nights ahead.