Sampson Gets 5 Years
John Sampson, former Democratic leader of the @NYSenate, is sentenced to 5 years in prison -
Sampson Awaiting Sentencing Embarrassed for Representing Clients After His Law License Had Been Suspended
Former state Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson, who was convicted in July 2015 of a multiple crimes, blamed “great embarrassment” for his failure to disclose that his law license had been suspended, the Times Union writes. *
The Braw for Brooklyn DA Will Change Brooklyn Politics and Maybe the City
Prosecutor who went after killer cop planning DA run (NYP) A former top prosecutor in Brooklyn plans to run for district attorney next year, The Post has learned. Retired Civil Rights Bureau chief Marc Fliedner, who along with ADA Joseph Alexis successfully prosecuted Police Officer Peter Liang in the fatal shooting of Akai Gurley in a housing-project stairwell, will be announcing his candidacy shortly after the new year, political insiders said. But Fliedner made headlines again when he criticized Thompson’s handling of the office and accused him of inserting politics into every aspect of its operations, including high-level negotiations. Patricia Gatling and former Fox News legal analyst Arthur Aidala have also announced their intention to run. Other names being floated are Bay Ridge Councilman Vincent Gentile and Public Advocate Letitia James, as well as prosecutor Anne Swern. Acting District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, who was appointed by Thompson days before his death, has yet to formally announce his candidacy.
Eric Gonzalez , the acting DA, is a career prosecutor who has, until now, played a behind-the-scenes role in the office and is making his first foray into politics as a candidate. Not least of Gonzalez’s advantages is the fact he controls an office with 1,200 employees, of which about half are attorneys.
Patricia Gatling , who last week announced her candidacy, served as human rights commissioner under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and for years was first deputy DA under Thompson’s predecessor, Charles Hynes. Gatling boasts a powerhouse legal résumé that includes past stints with the special narcotics prosecutor and various task forces that investigated the 1986 Howard Beach racial killing, the Tawana Brawley hoax and the prosecution of police brutality and death-in-custody cases.
Anne Swern , who also served as a Hynes first deputy, spent 33 years as a prosecutor, including years planning and supervising some of the borough’s innovative specialty courts for addiction and mental health as well as the Red Hook Community Justice Center. Swern doubles as a Democratic district leader, one of the 42 party officials whose votes keep Seddio in power as county chairman, so she can be expected to work that connection to try to secure the organization’s support.
Attorney Arnie Kriss , who finished last in a four-way race for DA against Hynes in the 2005 Democratic primary, formerly ran the NYPD’s internal trials division, giving him credibility on issues of police misconduct and a chance to build on the 7,500 votes he won in 2005. Another lawyer, Abe George , mounted a challenge to Hynes in 2013 but later dropped out to back Thompson; he’s rumored to be considering jumping into the race. And City Councilman Vincent Gentile told me he was planning a run — although a recent $10 million lawsuit against him by an ex-aide alleging an abusive work environment will make it tough going for Gentile.
Feds Send Sampson A Message Rat Now or Off to Jail Wow Year and Half Since Conviction No Sentencing Yet?
Convicted ex-state senator continues to break laws: lawyers (NYP) Crooked former state Sen. John Sampson continued to break laws after his corruption conviction and should be locked up for more than seven years,Brooklyn prosecutors said in a filing Tuesday. The feds are referring to a court order that Sampsonviolated in March by appearing as an attorney on a family court case in Brooklyn — although he was suspended just days earlier from practicing law. That earned Sampson disbarment last month. Now, prosecutors say a prison sentence of 87 months is needed more than ever becauseSampson “habitually acts as if rules and laws do not apply to him, or are at most inconvenient obstacles to be sidestepped,” the Brooklyn federal court filing says. Sampson is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 18. The once-powerful Brooklyn politician was convicted last year of obstruction of justice and lying to the feds as part of a mortgage-fraud investigation
Sampson Finally Going to Jail? Keep Putting It Off is There A Rat Deal?
Ex-state senator John Sampson to finally be sentenced in January (NYP) Ex-state Sen. John Sampson will finally be sentenced Jan. 18 — after exhausting one last bid for a retrial under a recent Supreme Court decision. Last month, a Brooklyn federal court judge refused to grant the disgraced Democrat another trial because he wasn’t convicted of bribery — unlike former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, whose bribery conviction was overturned.
Even the Supreme Court Donnell's Decision Could Not Keep Sampson Out of Jail
Disgraced state senator’s bid for newtrial is denied (NYP) Ex-state Sen. John Sampson’s bid for a new trial in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling was denied Monday, according to new court filings. Brooklyn federal court Judge Dora Irizarry ruled that Sampson isn’t entitled to a new trial based on the high court clearing former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell of bribery charges — because Sampson was never accused of bribery. “The bottom line is that the defendant neither was charged with or convicted of any bribery offense,” the judge wrote in siding with prosecutors on the issue. Irizarry also noted that she “repeatedly” instructed jurors that Sampson “was not charged with bribery or corruption offenses.” Sampson’s sentencing, which was scheduled for this Thursday, was adjourned to a date to be determined. His lawyer Nathaniel Akerman declined to comment on Irizarry’s ruling. The Brooklyn Democrat was found guilty last year of obstruction of justice and lying to the FBI as part of a mortgage-fraud investigation. Prosecutors want him sentenced to 87 months behind bars.* PolitifactNY determines that New York is indeed the worst state in the nation when it comes to government corruption, and this has been the case for decades.
Sampson Asks for One Years Judge Could Give Him 20 Year
Sampson Lifelong Friend Who Snitched On Him Sentenced
Lifelong friend who snitched on ex-state Sen. Sampson cries at sentencing (NYP) A former federal court paralegal tearfully apologized for relaying confidential information to lifelong friend and disgraced former state Sen. John Sampson before being sentenced to a year of probation Friday. Sam Noel, once a trusted and popular fixture at the Cadman Plaza
Sampson Appeal to Drop the Top Charges
Facing 20 years in jail, Sampson hopes to have top counts against him dropped (NYP) Facing up to 20 years behind bars, former state Sen. John Sampson is not going to prison quietly. After being convicted in July of obstruction of justice and lying to FBI agents, the desperate Brooklyn Democrat will push to have the top counts against him dropped at a hearing in January, court filings reveal. Sampson took a $188,500 loan from a shady business partner to cover money he skimmed from foreclosure deals, the feds charge. After the ex-associate, Edul Ahmad, was indicted, he wore a wire during a sitdown with Sampson at a Queens restaurant.* Feigning concern for his pal, Ahmad pulled out a copy of a check register of the loan and asked Sampson what he should do with it. The shaken former lawmaker put the document in his pocket and told Ahmad to keep his mouth shut. But the feds said Sampson baldly lied in a later interview by saying he never saw the piece of paper. In a Hail Mary filing by his lawyer, Sampson claims he was technically telling the truth because he never saw the original check register — only a copy. Sampson also wants the obstruction conviction tossed, claiming that he never overtly asked anyone to do anything illegal in trying to thwart investigators. Sampson won’t challenge a lesser conviction of failing to disclose his ownership stake in a liquor store. He was acquitted in July of the top charge against him, conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Sampson Guilty Could be Sentence Up 5 Years
Sen. John Sampson found guilty on three counts: 2 counts of lying to federal agents, obstruction of justice. He is automatically removed from the Senate
John Sampson will no longer be a member of the State Senate. Now, 31 Republicans, 5 IDC members, 1 Simcha Felder, and 24 Democrats remain * Sen. John Sampson, the former Senate Democratic leader, ousted after felony conviction. * Both John Sampson and Tom Libous were re-elected while underactive indictment * Sen. John Sampson surrenders seat after corruptionconviction * State Sen. John Sampson convicted of obstructing justice, lying to FBI, faces 20 years in prison (NYDN) * John Sampson, New York State Senator, Is Guilty on Some Federal Charges (NYT)Mr. Sampson, a Democrat, was convicted of obstruction of justice and making false statements, but a jury acquitted him of other embezzlement-related charges.* New York State Senator Convicted of Obstruction of Justice (WSJ) * State Senator Sampson Convicted on Three of Nine Corruption Charges(NY1)
Memo to Sampson "It is Not the Crime But the Cover-Up That Get You" Nixon
NY state Sen. Sampson found guilty of obstruction: A NewYork state senator has been convicted on federal char... (Fox) * New Yorkstate Senator John Sampson was convicted Friday of obstruction of justice. (WSJ) * 5 players in the 09 Senate coup (Sampson, Libous, Smith, Espada, Monserrate) stand convicted. A 6th, Skelos, is indicted. * State Sen. John Sampson guilty in corruption case (NYP) * John Sampson, New York State Senator, Is Guilty on Some Federal Charges (NYT Mr. Sampson, a Democrat, was convicted of obstruction of justice and making false statements, but a jury found him not guilty of other offenses stemming from an embezzlement he admitted to * John Sampson convicted of obstructing justice, lying to
FBI (NYDN)
FBI (NYDN)
John Sampson Jury?
Some Drama, but No Verdict in Sampson Trial (WSJ) On fifth day of deliberations, jury sends the judge a note. The fifth full day of jury deliberations in the federal trial of New York state Sen. John Sampson, a former Democratic leader, ended Thursday without a verdict—but with a little drama. Shortly after 5 p.m., the jurors sent a note to U.S. District Judge Dora Irizarry saying they would like to go home for the day “as soon as possible.” About 30 minutes later, as the judge chided three of the jurors for arriving late to the Brooklyn courthouse that morning, one juror interrupted her and requested that she let the panel continue deliberations for half an hour. Judge Irizarry sent the seven women and five men back to their deliberation room. At 6:05 p.m., the 12th jury note of the trial emerged. The jurors expressed a “sincere apology” for interrupting the judge and requested she dismiss them for the night. The judge ordered the jury to return Friday at 9 a.m. sharp.
(NYDN) Fish gotta swim and Brooklyn Sen. John Sampson’s gotta lie, a federal prosecutor told jurors Wednesday. To prove his point, the prosecutor opened his summation by replaying a video clip secretly recorded by the FBI in a Queens restaurant showing Sampson as he stashed an incriminating check register inside his jacket pocket. The document was proof that he took an unreported loan from a shady businessman, prosecutors said. Sampson didn’t know the businessman, Edul Ahmad, was cooperating with the government. “You know John Sampson is predisposed to tamper with evidence and tamper with witnesses like a fish is predisposed to swim,” prosecutor Paul Tuchman said in Brooklyn Federal Court. You saw the choice he made, the criminal choice,” the lawyer continued, “because he couldn’t help himself. It’s who he is.” * Jury deliberations set to begin in Sampson trial (Capital) Assistant U.S. attorney Paul Tuchmann, who presented the government’s closing argument in Brooklyn federal court, said Sampson did “whatever he could—legal or illegal—to keep anyone from knowing about that loan.” Nick Akerman, Sampson’s lawyer, admitted his client showed “bad judgment” in not reporting the loan, but claimed that there “never was a corrupt purpose.” Akerman argues the government entrapped Sampson by “dangling” the paper in front of him, and noted Sampson didn’t want the loan to surface for political reasons; a loan from Ahmad to Congressman Gregory Meeks caused the Queens politician embarrassment. Even if Sampson was entrapped, he can still be found guilty if the jury concludes that he was “predisposed” to commit a crime. “John Sampson is predisposed to tamper with evidence like a fish is predisposed to swim,” Tuchmann said. While Akerman called the questioning a “set-up” and claimed the F.B.I. agents “were only interested in creating a crime,”Tuchmann fought back at the notion that Sampson was unsure about the questions. “Really? John Sampson, attorney and State Senator, doesn’t know what a loan is?” Tuchmann said. * Closing Arguments Are Made in State Senator Sampson’s Conspiracy Trial (NYT) Friends of State Senator John L. Sampson ultimately felt he was betraying their trust, prosecutors said in closing arguments at Mr. Sampson’s federal conspiracy trial. State Senator John L. Sampson leaned on his longtime cronies when he was in legal trouble, but in the end he was undone by the friends’ sense that he had betrayed their loyalty to protect himself, prosecutors said in closing arguments on Wednesday at the legislator’s federal conspiracy trial. * Closing arguments have been made in former Senate Majority Leader John Sampson’s corruption trial. Jury deliberations are expected to begin today. * Fate of State Senator John Sampson Now in Hands of Federal Jury (NY1)
Sampson's Had A Mole Inside the U.S. Attorney's Office
Monday F.B.I. agent testifies in Sampson trial (Capital) Hosey testified Monday that Ahmad was “concerned for his safety” after his arrest, as he thought Sampson would “take out” cooperating witnesses. During the meeting, Ahmad provided federal agents with financial documents indicating he loaned Sampson $188,500 five years earlier, Hosey testified. (Sampson listed this loan on his Senate records only after his arrest.) “Don’t fucking trust this phone,” Sampson told Ahmad. “Don’t trust nobody.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuchmann also tamped down speculations about a bathroom conversation between Hosey and Ahmad that took place two weeks ago. During a break in the trial, Sampson and Nick Akerman, his lead defense attorney, walked into the bathroom and heard Hosey tell Ahmad his testimony was “excellent.” Ahmad denied the conversation took place when Akerman asked to open his cross-examination.
‘Shameful’ pal admits to being mole during Sampson probe (NYP) In poignant, and highly incriminating, testimony, Noel told jurors he was a longtime paralegal in the Brooklyn US Attorney’s Office when a worried Sampson approached him in the fall of 2011, asking him to snoop around the office to find out about the mounting embezzlement investigation against him. Noel, 48, tried, but was ultimately unsuccessful in accessing the federal computer files or nosing around investigators to ferret out Sampson associates who could incriminate the powerful Brooklyn politico, who at one time was the Senate’s No. 2-ranked Democrat. Noel, 48, tried, but was ultimately unsuccessful in accessing the federal computer files or nosing around investigators to ferret out Sampson associates who could incriminate the powerful Brooklyn politico, who at one time was the Senate’s No. 2-ranked Democrat.
John Sampson's childhood friend testifies against him atcorruption trial (Newsday) A pal since childhood of Sen. John Sampson testified on Thursday that he misused his position as a paralegal in the U.S. attorney's office to try to get inside information at the request of the high school buddy he had spent a lifetime sharing barbecues, weddings and holidays with. "It's very shameful, so embarrassing," said Sam Noel, appearing as a government witness at Sampson's corruption trial in Brooklyn federal court. He had betrayed the office where he worked for 23 years, he added, "And I'm testifying against a man I view as my brother." "I need you to do a favor," he allegedly said, claiming that he was concerned that a woman might be snitching on him in an ongoing investigation. "I need you to find out information on that." Noel said Sampson seemed "worried, concerned" and gave him four names - including Ahmad's - and said he wanted to find out whether the others were going to be cooperating witnesses, and what they might say. Noel said he was "shocked" at the request, and to give himself deniability, he told Sampson he would try to find out "public information." Sampson, he testified, responded, "OK, OK. But whatever you do don't get yourself jammed up." "He meant 'don't get caught,' " testified Noel, who said he believed Sampson was clearly asking him to get confidential information * Sam Noel, state Sen. John Sampson’s friend and a former paralegal for the U.S. attorney’s office, testified at Sampson’s trial that Noel sought names of witnesses at Sampson’s request, The New York Times reports Their bond was so close that after a request from Mr. Sampson, Mr. Noel, a paralegal for 22 years for the United States attorney’s office in Brooklyn , broke the law, ultimately ending his career. Mr. Sampson had embezzled state funds from foreclosure sales he had overseen as a court-appointed referee, prosecutors said. He had asked another old friend, Edul Ahmad, to loan him money to help pay back some of the funds. When Mr. Ahmad was charged in a mortgage-fraud case, Mr. Sampson became nervous that the embezzlement would be revealed, prosecutors said. Mr. Sampson offered to get inside information from Mr. Noel about potential witnesses in Mr. Ahmad’s case, in the hopes of keeping Mr. Ahmad from cooperating with the government against Mr. Sampson. “Don’t get yourself jammed up,” Mr. Sampson advised him. Mr. Noel testified, “I understood it was nonpublic information that was needed.” At his office, Mr. Noel pulled public information about the Ahmad case, then gained access to a law-enforcement database tracking investigations that is not public. He looked for the senator’s name and those of the potential witnesses but did not find anything, he testified. Mr. Noel then contacted two paralegals, asking each to let him know if she came across anything related to Mr. Sampson. The paralegals seemed very uncomfortable, and neither followed up, Mr. Noel testified. “Did you ever return to your office after that day?” Ms. Seifan, the assistant attorney, asked. “No, I did not,” Mr. Noel replied. Mr. Noel was charged with exceeding authorized access, a misdemeanor, in September 2012, and pleaded guilty. He faces up to a year in jail, but in return for cooperating against Mr. Sampson, the government may endorse a lighter sentence. In June 2012, Mr. Sampson dropped by Mr. Noel’s house, where Mr. Noel had been keeping to himself since losing his job. “Don’t tell me you got jammed up,” Mr. Sampson said, Mr. Noel recounted. “I got jammed up, John,” Mr. Noel said. Mr. Sampson then asked if Mr. Noel knew whether he was still being investigated. “I was just lost for words,” Mr. Noel said. “I’m pretty much out of luck; he’s still worried about what’s going on with him.”* Ex-paralegal testifies he snooped for Sen. John Sampson (NYDN) * Prosecutors: Sen. John Sampson asked childhood friend to leak witnesses' names
John Sampson’s former aide faces questions over honesty (NYP) During a morning turn on the witness stand, Celeste Knight endured a grilling by an assistant US attorney for apparently changing her story on how typical it was for Sampson to ask her to use her own cellphone to conduct some of his shadier business. In 2012, Knight had told the FBI that it was unusual for Sampson to do so. But in court Wednesday, as she was confronted by multiple wiretap recordings to the contrary, Knight changed her story. “Hey, do me a favor; do it on your cellphone and do it on your own time,” Sampson instructed Knight in one recording played for jurors.
Assemblywoman says Sampson asked her to aid ‘shady loan’ recipient (NYP) A Yonkers assemblywoman testified at the federal corruption trial of state Sen. John Sampson Wednesday that the Brooklyn Democrat once asked her to help out a businessman who had given him a dubious loan. Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer was chief counsel for the state Senate in 2009, she told jurors in Brooklyn federal court, when Sampson told her that he had a friend named Edul Ahmad who was having problems drumming up real-estate business. Sensing impropriety, Mayer said she felt “uncomfortable” with the request because it was a “constituent issue,” and later discovered that Ahmad had business ties to Sampson.
Westchesterpolitician felt ‘uncomfortable’ about State Sen. John Sampson’s ties to shadybroker (NYDN) Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers) was senior counsel to the Senate Democrat Conference in 2011 when Sampson asked her to help his friend, Ed Ahmad, obtain more foreclosure work as part of an initiative to boost the participation of minorities and women in the process. "I found a document on the (state) Department of State web site that his (Ahmad's) license had been revoked," she said. More disturbing, Mayer discovered that that an attorney from Sampson's private law firm was representing Ahmad in the matter. "I was uncomfortable with the fact that Ed Ahmad appeared to be a client of Sen. Sampson's firm and not just a constituent. I understood them to have a lawyer-client relationship which was different than what I had been led to believe." Meanwhile, Federal Judge Dora Irizarry, who had previously thrown out the embezzlement charges against Sampson on a legal technicality, dealt his defense team a severe setback Wednesday when she tossed out a document his lawyers produced out of thin air on Tuesday which they suggested was a hand-written loan agreement between Ahmad and Sampson. The judge said she was also striking all of Ahmad's testimony about the document. "This is totally unfair," Akerman complained to the judge. "It totally eviscerates our defense." Sampson stalked out of the courtroom shaking his head. "That's ridiculous, man," he fumed.
Wednesday Update
Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer told jurors she felt “uncomfortable” with the relationship between Sen. John Sampson and Edul Ahmad, a real-estate mogul who pled guilty to mortgage fraud and is the government’s key witness in Sampson’s federal trial in Brooklyn . Brooklyn Senator Told Friend Not to Show Check Register to Investigators (NYT) In a wiretapped conversation with a friend, State Sen. John L. Sampson, a Democrat from Canarsie, called a check register a “problem” and urged his friend to say nothing about it to investigators. * John Sampson coached Queens businessman how to fool feds (NYDN) Federal prosecutors played tapes secretly recorded inside Vetro restaurant in Howard Beach by star witness Edul Ahmad who had loaned Sampson $188,500 so the Brooklyn Democrat could repay foreclosure funds he had allegedly embezzled. Ahmad was instructed by the FBI to show Sampson a check register documenting the loan. “This opens up a can of worms,” Sampson allegedly said at the Feb. 22, 2012 sit down. “Make sure you lose a couple of pages here and there…You don't have to give it to them.” Federal prosecutors played tapes secretly recorded inside Vetro restaurant in Howard Beach by star witness Edul Ahmad who had loaned Sampson $188,500 so the Brooklyn Democrat could repay foreclosure funds he had allegedly embezzled. Ahmad was instructed by the FBI to show Sampson a check register documenting the loan. “This opens up a can of worms,” Sampson allegedly said at the Feb. 22, 2012 sit down. “Make sure you lose a couple of pages here and there…You don't have to give it to them.” Speaking in a loud voice, Sampson advised Ahmad not to lie to the feds, but then whispered suggestions that he falsely claim the loan was payment for years of legal work that Sampson had performed for him. Taking another page from the mob playbook, Sampson rushed to Ahmad's office after their mole in the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney's office was exposed, and they huddled in the bathroom with the fan turned on to muffle their conversation. * Speaking in hushed tones at a Queens restaurant, state Sen. John Sampson told a trusted crony to cover up a shady loan he had given the embattled politico, jurors at Sampson’s Brooklyn federal court trial heard.* John Sampsonrecorded telling crony to cover up shady loan (NYP) * Sampson jury hears of bathroom meeting (Capital) Sampson, who was then the Democratic leader in the New York State Senate, could try and use his extensive connections in politics and law enforcement to help the pair beat their federal charges. But fighting alongside Ahmad and Noel opened Sampson up to a possibility that seemed increasingly likely: that Ahmad and Noel were already cooperating with FBI agents, and had been tasked with turning on Sampson. With the pressure mounting, Sampson went to Ahmad’s office in southern Queens —unannounced, and long after business hours. Sampson ushered Ahmad into a tiny bathroom adjacent to the office, shut the door, and turned on the fan to prevent their conversation from being picked up by a recording device, Ahmad testified Tuesday during the fifth day of Sampson's trial on federal obstruction charges. Sampson told him federal agents had discovered that Noel was leaking nonpublic information about cooperating witnesses, Ahmad testified. The minute-long bathroom conversation was not recorded, Ahmad testified, because he had no time to use a recording device supplied to him by his FBI handler. But as the pair left the bathroom, Sampson turned to his former friend, who is now the key government witness at his trial. “I’ve got some money, and anytime you need it, you can have it,” Sampson said, according to Ahmad’s testimony * Brooklyn Senator Told Friend Not to Show Check Register to Investigators (NYT)
Tuesday Update
- Edul Ahmad, a Brooklyn real estate agent indicted in a $50 million mortgage fraud scheme in 2011, is the star witness in state Sen. John Sampson’s corruption trial, which completed its fourth day, Capital New York reports: Sampson’s power, reach on display in trial (Capital) Now, it is Sampson who sits at the defense table, as Solomon, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York, uses Ahmad's testimony to show the state senator's power and connections, which he used to allegedly obstruct justice—first for Ahmad, who was secretly cooperating with the government, and later for himself. n Monday, jurors heard recordings and testimony revealing the extent of Sampson’s alleged influence in the judicial system. The obstruction of justice charges, paired with conspiracy and lying to the FBI, constitute the remainder of the government’s case, after a judge's decision to dismiss embezzlement charges against Sampson, a Brooklyn Democrat. vIn recorded conversations between Ahmad and Sampson, the senator dispenses legal advice and touts his influence, before becoming increasingly suspicious about Ahmad’s cooperation with the government. After Ahmad and three of his straw buyers were arrested, Sampson told his former associate to hire a “flamboyant” lawyer, “Ben Brafman or somebody who can fucking sway the jury.” But, according to prosecutors, Sampson ultimately recommended lawyers who would feed him information about the criminal cases to ensure that none of his business partners cooperated with law enforcement to bring charges against him. Sampson’s connection to the judiciary also enabled him to obtain illegal information. A high school friend, Samuel Noel, was the head of the paralegal unit at the U.S. Attorney’s office in
Fed Trial of Sampson Begins Today
Witness List for the Sampson Trial Includes: Former Speaker Silver, Former Governor Paterson, Brooklyn BP Adams
Sen. John Sampson went on trial in a case about political corruption in which there are no political corruption charges. The Brooklyn Democrats is not charged with embezzling $440,000 from state funds, as prosecutors say he did — but with engaging in an extensive cover-up.
Above the law’ state senator covered up crimes: prosecutors (NYP) Brooklyn federal court trial Wednesday. “So, what did he do?” said federal prosecutor Marisa Seifan. “He doubled down and committed new crimes to cover up the old ones. The defendant used his knowledge of the law, his skills *as a lawyer and his position as a New York state senator to break the law.”* Sampson disputes ‘corruption,’ cooperation as trial begins (Capital)
Jury selection for the trial of veteran Democratic state Sen. John Sampson on corruption charges began yesterday in federal court in
Sampson draws rebuke for contacting Assemblywoman (Capital) * Jury selection is slated to begin today in the trial of state Sen. John Sampson, who faces nine federal charges for allegedly attempting to conceal money he stole from foreclosure accounts, the Journal reports:
A federal judge rebuked State Senator John Sampson for attempting to contact Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, who may testify at his trial beginning next week. Judge Dora Irizarry of U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York called Sampson's actions "inappropriate," and said that the Brooklyn Democrat should refrain from contacting witnesses. Mayer served as counsel to Senate Democrats until 2011. Addressing Sampson, Irizarry said, “As a lawyer, that was a severe lapse of judgement on your part.” According to Irizarry, Mayer declined the offer of a meeting. Mayer’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.
More On John Sampson
The Sampson Trial Will Expose the Media and NY Prosecutors Cover-Up of the AEG Scandal
In Ocean 11 The Rat Pack Tried to Steal From A Casino, In Albany
Al Sharpton pal part probed in casino fiasco (NYP) The scandal — in which Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) was chosen as the winning bidder in January 2010, only to be scrapped by the state Lottery Division over ethics breaches — will be a factor in the corruption trial of state Sen. John Sampson scheduled to begin next week. The friend, Donald Coleman, was also vice chairman of Sharpton’s nonprofit, the National Action Network. Coleman’s identity is revealed in deposition transcripts obtained by The Post from the state Inspector General’s investigation into the tortured Aqueduct bidding process in 2010. Sampson, the former Democratic leader of the Senate, is accused of obstructing justice, witness and evidence tampering, and lying to an FBI agent in an unrelated case. Federal prosecutors are expected to bring up how the Brooklyn lawmaker, who along with then-Gov. David Paterson and then-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver led the process to choose the raceway-casino operator at Aqueduct, made “false or misleading statements” under oath to the IG in the past racino probe.
Lobbyists Sheinkopf Took the 5th in the AEG Investigation
Sheinkopf took the 5th when asked questions by the NY former state Inspector General Joseph Fisch about the AEG scandal which is still being investigated by the feds as part of the AEG investigation. The Feds are also investigating a Board Of Election (the cesspool of political corruption) contract for new machines that Sheinkopf was a lobbyist for. The Press did not even question Sheinkropf or mayoral candidate Thompson who hired him as a consultant a couple of weeks ago. Sheinkropf took the 5th 56 times when the NYS questioned him about the AEG bidding process. Sheinkopf took the 5th when asked questions by the NY former state Inspector General Joseph Fisch about the AEG scandal The press in a group has drop their prime mission of protecting the public by informing them of what is going on in their city, in exchange for the one lines and sound bites the consultant gives them. The FBI investigation of Sampson involvement of the AEG bidding process is just one of the places that Sheinkropf turns up in criminal investigations. NY IG Fisch told the Voice that the awarding of this contract to AEG was “a tribute to the unbridled power of lobbyists.” While AEG competitors, said Fisch, “had the financial resources, experience and the support of the licensing and financial professionals, AEG had the right lobbyists.” That, he concludes, “proved to be all they needed.” * City landlords donate to an odd ‘Common Sense’ group(Capital) Friends of Silver: $3 million on hand. The committee associated with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver kept a steady balance through 2013. Expenses included paying the firm BerlinRosen, and he continued to pay the law firm of Stroock, Stroock and Laven, LLP, which he employed following the Vito Lopez scandal. His campaign account also supported several candidates, including Democrat John McManmon who lost his special election bid. * Sheldon Silver on hot seat over racino bid as e-mails track money to political committee(NYP) Just before that scandal-plagued bidder was picked, Silver solicited “campaign dough” from Hank Sheinkopf, a friend who was lobbying for the company, the Aqueduct Entertainment Group.“They don’t want the check to come from AEG,” O’Farrell wrote in an e-mail sent on July 17, 2009. “I’ve seen Hank Sheinkopf in action. If you want some quality time with Silver, Hank’s your man,” consultant Eugene Christiansen told AEG principal Larry Woolf in an Aug. 19, 2009, e-mail.Sheinkopf refused to talk to the IG in 2010, invoking the Fifth Amendment. “I have no obligation to be intimidated by him under any circumstances. I’m not a state employee,” Sheinkopf told The Post last week. “It’s none of his f--king business, how’s that?’* Gov Paterson Was Looking for Political Support for the 2010 Campaign When He Said He OK’d Racino Deal as Favor to Sampson
Silver Solicited Campaign $$$ From AEG Lobbyists Sheinkopf
Silver Solicited Campaign $$$ From AEG Lobbyists Sheinkopf
As the state evaluated the billion-dollar proposals for the Aqueduct Racetrack racino in 2009, principals for the shadiest bidder gave thousands to a political committee controlled by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver — money that nobody today can account for. And months later, just before that scandal-plagued bidder was picked, Silver solicited “campaign dough” from Hank Sheinkopf, a friend who was lobbying for the company, the Aqueduct Entertainment Group. * Sheldon Silver on hot seat over racino bid as e-mails track money to political committee(NYP) *Silver: Legislature Needs A Role In Casino Siting(YNN)
Gambling Industry Money Is Streaming Into Albany(NYT) * Two of the lobbyists accused in the IG report of fixing the Democratic senate - Carl Andrews and Hank Sheinkopf - flouted the probe, with Andrews unsuccessfully suing to block subpoenas and appealing right up to the report’s release, and Sheinkopf taking the fifth amendment. Incredibly, their refusal to cooperate with a state probe of the award of one state contract has no effect on their ability to seek another. There are no qualifications or standards for this job, and you can keep it even if the state’s Public Integrity Commission (PIC) finds that you violated the lobbying laws. All you have to do is find a client willing to pay you. Andrews hosted a victory dinner in his Albany house right after AEG won the bid, and Smith and Sampson and five other legislators, including Manhattan county leader Keith Wright, joined company brass at an event Andrews invoiced for $1,562.
Sheinkopf Was Paid $100,000 By GOP Candidate Who Wound Up With 10% of Vote
The night before Governor Paterson announced the award, Andrews and AEG executives lit a victory cigar at the Havana Club with Al Sharpton, whose NAN had just collected $100,000 in AEG contributions, ostensibly tied to their belief that the Rev was whispering to Paterson on their behalf. A former state senator himself, Andrews held a top executive title in the Spitzer and Paterson administrations until a scandal about his apparent efforts to influence adecision of the State Liquor Authority forced him from office (the IG eventually concluded that Andrews’ top aide had to be fired).* Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf is crossing party lines to join the campaign of Nachman Caller, a Republican seeking to unseat Brooklyn Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind, [The Insider]
Sheinkopf Was Paid $100,000 By GOP Candidate Who Wound Up With 10% of Vote
List of reporters who have interview Sheinkopf Since He Took the 5th and Never Asked Him About Taking the 5th Coming - (list in formation)
Celeste Katz (NYDN), Azi Paybarah (Capital), DANNY HAKIM (NYT), Chriss Blagg(CrainsNY), Grace Rauh (NY1) Kenneth Lovett (NYDN), WCBS TV, Gabe Pressman(NBC), Courtney Gross (NY1), Fred Dicker (NYP), Maggie Haberman (Politico),Marcia Kramer (WCBS), Joe Bartlett (WOR), Sam Roberts (NYT), Jill Colvin
Celeste Katz (NYDN), Azi Paybarah (Capital), DANNY HAKIM (NYT), Chriss Blagg(CrainsNY), Grace Rauh (NY1) Kenneth Lovett (NYDN), WCBS TV, Gabe Pressman(NBC), Courtney Gross (NY1), Fred Dicker (NYP), Maggie Haberman (Politico),Marcia Kramer (WCBS), Joe Bartlett (WOR), Sam Roberts (NYT), Jill Colvin
Elected Official and Drug Lord WTF
South American, Drug Lord, Congressman Meeks Expected to Testify At Sampson Trial Starting in June
Death squad drug lord might testify against John Sampson (NYP) One was the drug-trafficking leader of a South American death squad. The other is a former airline baggage handler now serving a life sentence for drug running. Shaheed “Roger” Khan and Victor Bourne are just a few in a rogues gallery of possible witnesses whose stories or testimony will figure into the upcoming trial of Brooklyn state Sen. John Sampson. Sampson, the former Democratic leader of the Senate, is accused of obstructing justice, witness and evidence tampering and lying to an FBI agent.
His trial is expected to begin June 22 in Brooklyn federal court. Aside from the druglords, others on the list of people who will testify or whose names might come up at trial are Congressman Gregory Meeks of Queens and Paul Rivera, a political operative with strong ties to the Clintons . The names were listed in the questionnaire given to potential jurors in the case. Rivera, a former top aide to Sampson, worked in the Clinton White House and formed the pro-Hillary Rodham Clinton American Leadership Project in the 2008 Democratic primary. There are also several Sampson confidants, state workers and a businessman with whom Sampson was a secret partner in a Brooklyn liquor store. Another businessman, Edul Ahmad, was convicted in a mortgage-fraud scheme and will figure prominently in the trial. He cooperated with prosecutors and wore a wire in the Sampson case. Ahmad, a Guyanese immigrant and real-estate broker, funneled cash to Meeks and Sampson.
He pleaded guilty in October 2012 to mortgage fraud but has yet to be sentenced. Ahmad gave his longtime pal Sampson $188,500 in 2006 to repay funds the senator allegedly embezzled from escrow accounts he supervised as a lawyer in private practice. Another businessman, Edul Ahmad, was convicted in a mortgage-fraud scheme and will figure prominently in the trial. He cooperated with prosecutors and wore a wire in the Sampson case. Ahmad, a Guyanese immigrant and real-estate broker, funneled cash to Meeks and Sampson. He pleaded guilty in October 2012 to mortgage fraud but has yet to be sentenced. Ahmad gave his longtime pal Sampson $188,500 in 2006 to repay funds the senator allegedly embezzled from escrow accounts he supervised as a lawyer in private practice.
More About the Sampson Trial
The trial of former Senate Majority Leader John Sampson, originally set to kick off yesterday, will not begin until the spring, following a status conference in federal court in
Prosecutors Build Case Against Sampson
Federal prosecutors can argue to a Brooklyn jury that state Sen. John Sampson lied under oath when he claimed he “could not recall” in response to more than 100 questions about the bidding process for a racino at Aqueduct, the Daily Newsreports: * Brooklyn jury that Sen. John Sampson lied under oath to investigators when he claimed he “could not recall” in response to more than 100 questions about the bidding process for a racino at Aqueduct, a federal judge ruled.
Former Consultant to New York Democrats Is Sentenced to 3 Years in Fraud(NYT) Prosecutors said Melvin E. Lowe stole $100,000 from the New York Democratic Senate Campaign Committee in an invoicing scheme with State Senator John L. Sampson. Queens who helped orchestrate the Democratic coup that brought Mr. Sampson to power. A payment of $20,000 was sent to the operative, Michael Nieves, a former political adviser to Senator Hiram Monserrate. Mr. Nieves has not been charged with wrongdoing. Mr. Sampson, who was re-elected in November, has not been charged in the case. He is under federal indictment on corruption charges in an unrelated case in which prosecutors contend that he lied about his ownership of a liquor store. A federal judge dismissed charges that he embezzled more than $400,000 from the sale of foreclosed homes. * Former Sampson aide gets 3 years in corruption case(NYP)* Consultant Melvin Lowe, one-time FCR lobbyist, gets three years for conspiracy in unrelated case(AYR) Lowe was found guilty of wire fraud, failing to file tax returns and other charges after a one-week trial in September. Federal prosecutors said Lowe earned $2.1 million in consulting fees between 2007 and 2012, including work for developer Forest City
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The NJ consultant not named in the U.S. Attorney press release was Cornerstone Managment run by, Michael Cohen And Elnatan Rudolph: NY Staffers, Well-Paid Consultants, NJ Candidates (City and State) Cohen, who hooked on with Sampson during his 2005 Brooklyn DA campaign, now worked as $88,000-a-year job as one of Sampson’s closest aides during that time. Cohen also served as a paid “consultant” for the Four Seasons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center—a well-known, for-profit organization in Sampson’s Brooklyn district that lobbies the Legislature for health care funding, according to Cohen’s ethics filings and the organization’s lobbying disclosure. (Rudolph also worked as a lobbyist for the Brooklyn nursing home in 2006, when he was on staff for Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf.).
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Former Sampson aide not in complaint (CrainsNY) Michael Cohen, theformer district office chief of staff for Mr. Sampson, now works for the New York lobbying firmPitta Bishop Del Giorno and Giblin. (CrainsNY) A firm spokesman said that Mr. Cohen maintains that "Political Consultant #1" in the charges against Mr. Lowe unveiled this week was "not him." Mr. Cohen has hired prominent criminal defense lawyer Sanford Talkin, who declined to comment.* Judge: 3 years for political consultant in $100K scam * Judge: 3 years for political consultant in $100K scam (Lohud) A political consultant with ties to the Ridge Hill Development in Yonkers was sentenced to three years in federal prison Friday. Prosecutors said Michael Nieves, a political consultant, was brought in to help mediate the political feud. With Nieves’ personal finances in trouble, prosecutors said Sampson instructed Lowe “to take care of Nieves financially.” They said Lowe “was essentially acting as Sampson’s agent in Albany .” Lowe then arranged for the committee to pay Cornerstone Management Partners of Teaneck $100,000 for printing services. Most of the money went to Lowe, who then failed to pay the contractors he hired for the pool and basement work at his second home in Georgia .* Former NYS Democratic Senate Campaign CommitteeConsultant Jailed for Tax & Fraud Convictions(Lawfuel) * Mystery consultant in theft case identified (CrainsNY) The Daily News did not even know about the $20,000 given to Nieves illegally through Sampson, Lowe and Cornerstone Managment when they wrote this in 2010 * Sampson's Conflict (NYDN)
DA Hynes Put Brooklyn Boss Norman in Jail for the Same Thing That Gianaris's DSCC Did With Parkside This Year
Sampson Who the NYT Was Trying to Stop With Their Hynes Endorsement in 2005, Used Embezzled Court Money to Fund His DA Campaign
Sampson, 47, last month was accused of embezzling nearly $500,000 of escrow money that he was supposed to safeguard in the sale of foreclosed homes in Brooklyn while acting as a court-appointed referee.
Prosecutors say he used the money to finance his failed bid for Brooklyn district attorney in 2005. Federal prosecutors say that when Sampson learned he was being probed, he used a mole in Brooklyn’s federal court to help him thwart the investigation. He is the only minority candidate in the race, and his face and name bedeck glossy color posters from downtown Fulton Street to Starrett City. His handlers, who include political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, appear to be banking on a straight-out ethnic appeal to the borough's black voters, who make up 44 percent of the voting rolls.
Hynes Got Even With Former Brooklyn Norman for Running Sampson Against Him For DA in 2005
While Joe Hynes can hope for the residual goodwill of those who remember him as the prosecutor who won convictions in the vicious 1986 Howard Beach racial attack, as well as for steady declines in crime, he must also cope with the blowback from his multiple indictments of the borough's black Democratic county leader, Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr., charges that Hynes only sought after the Daily News editorial board repeatedly slammed him for failing to address corruption in the borough's courts. Norman never formally endorsed Sampson, but he's made no pretense about his preference. Norman Guilty of Extorting Judge - The New York Sun * Judgeships For Sale In New York? | Judicial Watch
If Boss Norman Was Sent to Jail For Coercing Candidates to Pay Thousands of Dollars AQ Favored Campaign Consultant Why Not Parkside and Gianaris
DSCC requirement to use Parkside for mailers reminiscent of Norman's requirement to use Lendler [UPDATED] (Progress Queens) Former Brooklyn Democratic Party chair Clarence Norman was indicted and later convicted for requiring judicial candidates to use party-favored political campaign vendors. Prosecutors said Mr. Norman had coerced two candidates for civil court judge to pay thousands of dollars to favored campaign consultants, or lose his organization’s support in the 2002 primary. In due course, Mr. Norman was found guilty in a jury trial of "coercion, grand larceny by extortion and attempted grand larceny by extortion" stemming from charges of having "coerced two candidates for civil court judge to pay thousands of dollars to favored campaign consultants, or lose his organization’s support in the 2002 primary," according to a 2007 report published by The New York Times.
.@NYSenateDems Email Show DSCC Leaned on Senate Candidates to Use the Parkside Group, Boss Norman was Convicted By Hynes for Forcing 3 Judges to Use His Vender
The DSCC Parkside Connection(YNN) Last month the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and its preferred consultant, The Parkside Group, took issue with a posting that candidates were leaned on to use Parkside in advance of the November elections. Senate Democrats lost just enough seats to ensure their minority status for at least the next two years. And while ultimately Democrats blame the “Republican Wave” for their losses, some losing candidates stepped forward to question the DSCC’s alliance with Parkside. Now comes an email chain we’ve obtained that could help illustrate the point. As background, the emails are between a staffer from the campaign of Democratic State Senate Candidate Brian Howard, who was running against Republican Kathy Marchione in the 43rd District, and a representative from the DSCC. The Howard Campaign, which was at a significant fundraising disadvantage, wanted to do a robocall to targeted voters. Howard was getting zero financial help from the DSCC. But the campaign was seeking information about voters in the district from Vote Builder, a database the DSCC controls that contains voter information from the New York State Board of Elections. That information about targeted voters can be customized, and it’s a valuable resource to all campaigns. In this case, the Howard camp needed help exporting the file to the company it had hired to do the robocall. A representative from the DSCC did not like that a company other than Parkside was hired, and said as much in this email chain from October. It’s between Joe Billick, representing the DSCC and a campaign staffer who has asked not to be identified. That staffer writes the first email.
Brooklyn Boss Seddio's Innocents Projects
Mar 10, 2011 - “I don't know what will happen with Carl Kruger but anytime I have dealt with him he has been an honest broker,” Seddio said(Brooklyn Paper) * Frank Seddio resigned a judgeship while under investigation by the state's judicial watchdog agency Daily News asked Seddio to Release documents of his Investigation to Them in the Name of His New Push for transparency * Frank Seddio picks up George Arzt for his PR . Still, another lookat the complaint against Kruger suggests some shocking--at least to those who believe what they learned in civics class--behavior from a Senate staffer, apparently at the behest of "Senate Leader #1." * Who's that? Apparently Senator John Sampson (as identified in news coverage), who has had supporters use Forest City Ratner offices for a fundraiser. * That staffer was willing to essentially outsource government "pork" directly to Bender, letting the real estate executive allocate money "as he saw fit."(AYR)
Some Charges Drop From Sampson On the Grounds He Took the Money On An Early Date
Statute of Limitations Gets the Senator Off 2 of 10 Charges
The embezzlement charges against State Senator John L. Sampson, a Democrat, had raised questions about the statute of limitations. The government’s case against State Senator John L. Sampson lost some of its heft on Friday when a federal judge dismissed two central embezzlement charges. Mr. Sampson will now probably face only eight counts, including making false statements, concealing records, obstructing justice and witness tampering, when he goes to trial early next year. The politician, a Democrat who represents East New York and Canarsie in Brooklyn , easily won his primary and is expected to be re-elected next week. The two dropped charges had to do with Mr. Sampson’s role as a court-appointed overseer for two foreclosed properties in Brooklyn . He was supposed to give the surplus money from the sale of the properties back to the State Supreme Court after those properties sold, which was in 1998 and 2002. Instead, the government said, he held on to the money, then withdrew it for his own use in 2008. “The effective date of the embezzlement is the time in which the defendant did not return to the Kings County Puerto Rico . “It’s quite likely he’ll win his election,” Joshua N. Colangelo-Bryan, one of the lawyers, said. Judge Irizarry granted the request. * Judge tosses charges that Brooklyn Sen Sampson embezzled$440K but he still faces other criminal counts(NYP)
Sampson Lawyers He Took the Money Just Before the Feds Said . . . The Statute of Limitations Issue
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Catch Me If You Can
In Senator’s Case, Defining ‘Embezzlement’(NYT) State Senator John L. Sampson, who handily won his primary last month despite being under indictment, returned to court on Thursday to seek dismissal of two of the 10 counts against him. His lawyers did not argue that he did not embezzle from the government, but rather that he did it earlier than prosecutors have said. The issue, laid out before Judge Dora L. Irizarry ofFederal District Court Brooklyn , hinged on what action constituted embezzlement: Mr. Sampson’s transfer of the money, or his use of it? Federal prosecutors have accused Mr. Sampson of embezzling funds from sales of foreclosed properties, which he was overseeing as a state court-appointed administrator of foreclosure funds.
He is also charged with obstruction of justice, witness tampering, evidence tampering and making false statements. Mr. Sampson’s lawyers argued on Thursday that the five-year statute of limitations on the embezzlement charges expired well before he was indicted. Mr. Sampson was supposed to promptly return surplus money from the sale of two foreclosed Brooklyn properties to the New York State Supreme Court, according to the indictment. He did not. The defense agreed, for the purposes of the motion, that the embezzlement took place in 1998 and 2002, when Mr. Sampson transferred the money to escrow accounts he controlled. It is “extraneous” and “irrelevant” how and when the embezzled funds were spent, his lawyer, Nathaniel H. Akerman, said in court on Thursday. A prosecutor, Alexander A. Solomon, argued that embezzlement was “not complete until the defendant used the funds in the escrow account,” which occurred within the five-year window. udge Irizarry asked, What if someone takes the money but just leaves it in an account and never uses it? “By your reasoning, a referee who does that could never be prosecuted,” she said. Mr. Solomon said it was not clear a crime had occurred until Mr. Sampson made withdrawals and cut checks in his name. The judge seemed unpersuaded, saying Mr. Sampson’s failure to give the money back “shows some intention.”
In Senator’s Case, Defining ‘Embezzlement’(NYT) State Senator John L. Sampson, who handily won his primary last month despite being under indictment, returned to court on Thursday to seek dismissal of two of the 10 counts against him. His lawyers did not argue that he did not embezzle from the government, but rather that he did it earlier than prosecutors have said. The issue, laid out before Judge Dora L. Irizarry of
Sampson, who won his primary last month despite being under indictment, returned to court to seek dismissal of two of the 10 counts against him. His lawyers did not argue that he did not embezzle from the government, but rather that he did it earlier than prosecutors have said.
| State Senator Sampson Arrested and Elected |
Booklyn Dems Love Sampson Kicks the Ass of Team de Blasio
In Hotly Contested Races, the de Blasio Endorsement OnlyGoes So Far(NYO)Brooklyn , where Mr. de Blasio has lived for decades, was where his endorsed candidates had the most trouble. Despite campaigning in person for Pete Sikora twice, the economist with the Communication Workers of America lost to Jo Anne Simon, a Democratic district leader, by more than a thousand votes. Mr. Sikora’s loss was glaring because it was in the brownstone Brooklyn Assembly district that heavily overlapped with Mr. de Blasio’s old City Council district: the mayor’s Park Slope row house lies just blocks beyond the district’s boundaries.A similar dynamic played itself out in central Brooklyn . District Leader Jesse Hamilton, backed by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams–the Democrat who held the senate until this year–and other local Democratic power brokers, easily bested attorney Rubain Dorancy, who ran with WFP and mayoral support. The district, rich with black voters that overwhelmingly supported the mayor in 2013, rejected Mr. Dorancy, who was assailed for recently moving from Mill Basin to Crown Heights Brooklyn , twice indicted State Senator John Sampson faced down a challenge from Dell Smitherman, a former political director for 1199. Backed by Mr. de Blasio, the WFP and just about every labor union under the sun, Mr. Smitherman still lost to Mr. Sampson, once the majority leader of the senate, by 14 points. Mr. de Blasio made personal appeals for Mr. Smitherman at a megachurch in East New York and at a subway station yesterday, but the mayor–treated like a celebrity in those corridors–could do little to move the needle against an incumbent with high name recognition and a power base that has yet to erode. (The same was true for WFP, who found themselves in the unfamiliar position of falling to the county organization in many competitive races.) * Brooklyn Dems celebrate defiant Sampson win (Capital)
The day after Sampson survived the primary battle, his political consultant, Melvin Lowe, was found guilty by a federal jury of conspiring with Sampson to defraud the DSCC
Democratic operative convicted on all counts
Ex-Consultant Found Guiltyof Fraud Tied to Lawmaker (NYT)
Sampson Hugs for Brooklyn Boss Seddio
The conviction stemmed from an investigation that has already felled Shirley L. Huntley, a former Democratic state senator fromQueens . She was sentenced to a year and a day in prison after she pleaded guilty to stealing taxpayers’ money through a nonprofit organization she was running. Malcolm A. Smith, a Democratic state senator from Queens who was seeking re-election but lost his primary on Tuesday, is awaiting a retrial on bribery charges that grew out of the inquiry. A judge granted a mistrial in June. * Former Sampson aideguilty of conspiring to defraud Dems(NYP)* Victorious Sampson Knocks de Blasio and Cuomo For EndorsingHis Opponent(NYO)
The conviction stemmed from an investigation that has already felled Shirley L. Huntley, a former Democratic state senator from
Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Found Guilty Of Tax And Fraud Charges LOWE was retained as a consultant by the DSCC after New York State Senator John Sampson was appointed as the Senate's Democratic Conference Leader following the June 2009 "coup" that temporarily shifted the balance of power in the New York
State Senator Sampson Arrested and Re-Elected
Is Pitta Bishop Operative The NJ Based Consultant? Why is the Name Being Covered Up?
From NYT "At Mr. Sampson’s request in 2010, he arranged for a New Jersey-based consultant to bill the committee for $100,000 in printing services that were not performed, the news release said.Mr. Lowe allowed the consultant to keep $5,000 and he gave $20,000 to Michael Nieves, a political operative based in Queens, who had helped the Democrats regain power. He kept the remaining $75,000 for his own firm, which he used to renovate his second home in Georgia."
From NYT "At Mr. Sampson’s request in 2010, he arranged for a New Jersey-based consultant to bill the committee for $100,000 in printing services that were not performed, the news release said.Mr. Lowe allowed the consultant to keep $5,000 and he gave $20,000 to Michael Nieves, a political operative based in Queens, who had helped the Democrats regain power. He kept the remaining $75,000 for his own firm, which he used to renovate his second home in Georgia."
Michael Cohen, the former district office chief of staff for Mr. Sampson, now works for the New York lobbying firm Pitta Bishop Del Giorno and Giblin. A firm spokesman said that Mr. Cohen maintains that "Political Consultant #1" in the charges against Mr. Lowe unveiled this week was "not him." Mr. Cohen has hired prominent criminal defense lawyer Sanford Talkin, who declined to comment.
Mr. Lowe is charged, among other things, with pocketing much of a $100,000 payment the state Senate Democrats' campaign arm initially paid to a New Jersey political consulting firm, which Crain's and others have identified as Cornerstone Management Partners. The money then went back to Mr. Lowe and others, the complaint alleges.s part of the scheme, prosecutors contend, Mr. Lowe directed a vendor to submit a false invoice for printing to the campaign committee, and then to redirect $75,000 of the committee’s payment for those nonexistent printing services to him and $20,000 to a political consultant, identified in the complaint as Political Consultant No. 1. The complaint says the $20,000 payment to the unnamed consultant was made days after a state senator, identified in the complaint only as Senator No. 1, promised to pay the consultant for assistance the consultant had already provided to the senator. * Melvin Lowe | Capital New York A political consultant with ties to leading Democrats has been charged with defrauding the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, in a complaint by federal prosecutors.
Smith and Sampson Joined At the AEG Hip
More Corruption Connected to Sampson
Melvin Lowe admitted during confidential meetings with prosecutors that he defrauded the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee out of $100,000 – and gave $75,000 of the money to “Senator #1,” the filing says. A source said “Senator #1” is Lowe’s ex-boss, Sampson (D-Brooklyn), who is fighting charges that he, himself, also committed fraud and tax crimes.
The Media is Not Covering the Trial of A Guy Who Operates in the Shadows of Political Insiders in a White Plains Federal Court
“Melvin Lowe’s complaint alleges that New York’s culture of political corruption extends beyond elected officials to the relatively unknown professional political insiders who work behind the scenes,” Mr. Bharara said in the news release.
Sampson crony eyed in 400G pay probe | New York Post
He was John Sampson’s $400,000 man. Lowe was among the eight Democratic elected officials and staffers secretly taped by ex-state Sen. Shirley Huntley, who was sentenced last week to one year imprisonment for her own fraud conviction. Huntley wore a wire in a bid for a reduced sentence.Lowe made a tidy sum during his one-year tenure. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee paid his two firms — G&L consulting and Prestige Strategic Communications — a combined $250,000 in 2009-10.Around the same time, Sampson paid Lowe an additional $150,000 from his personal campaign committee — even though the Brooklyn pol did not face a tough re-election fight. Senate Democratic insiders snickered that Lowe was being overpaid and wondered what he actually did for the money. “There was shock that Lowe was getting paid through two different companies. The whole thing was highly irregular and fishy,” said one Senate source.Another source said Lowe requested payments above the monthly retainer spelled out in his contract — and Sampson had to personally sign off on them. “The safeguards were lax,” the insider said. “On a day-to-day basis, I couldn’t tell you what Melvin did. I know he had a close relationship with the unions. Sampson brought Lowe in after a coup that toppled Malcolm Smith as the Senate majority leader. Senate Dems also hired Lowe’s son, Melvin Lowe Jr., as a regional coordinator in Brooklyn. Now, both Sampson and Smith are fighting federal indictments. Sampson was charged with embezzling $440,000 from foreclosure escrow accounts he managed as well as witness and evidence tampering. Lowe — who worked as a lobbyist for Forest City Ratner — was also subpoenaed as part of the federal probe of the company’s Ridge Hill development in Yonkers.The Harlemite is a known political operative who worked on Andrew Cuomo’s unsuccessful 2002 campaign for governor and is friendly with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.Cuomo’s 2002 campaign paid Lowe’s firm $75,000. Lowe also worked for East Side Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV and former state Comptroller Carl McCall. * US v. Melvin Lowe Indictment * Feds Bust NY Consultant Melvin Lowe - NY Daily News He advised big-time developer Forest City Ratner on Ridge Hill, an $845 million Yonkers project that led to bribery convictions in 2012 for a former Yonkers city councilwoman and a political operative. * Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Indictment of Political Consultant Melvin Lowe for Defrauding The New York Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (yonkerstribune.com) * Political Consultant Melvin Lowe Arrested in Corruption ...(NYO) * Consultant to Democrats Faces Corruption Charges(NYT)The charges against the consultant, Melvin E. Lowe, who also served as a political aide to John L. Sampson, a former Democratic leader in the State Senate, include accusations that he and an unnamed state senator stole $100,000 from the campaign committee in an invoicing scheme. Several people with knowledge of the matter said the unnamed senator was Mr. Sampson, who is under indictment in an unrelated federal case.* What If They Held A Corruption Trial And No Media Covered It(SquarePegDem's Blog)
Smith Sampson and Libous Before the Jury A Jury of Voters
Cuomo, Accused of Party Disloyalty, Backs Legislator Facing the Same Charge (NYT)Albany . * Which democratic vision will rule Albany after the elections? The Cuomo one orthe one by whom? (CrainsNY) * Sampson supporters call Democrat rival a Republican(NYP)
Cuomo, Accused of Party Disloyalty, Backs Legislator Facing the Same Charge (NYT)
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein both face primaries on Tuesday in part because they have helped Republicans keep power in the State Senate.De Blasio made a last-minute push push Sunday for state Senate candidate Dell Smitherman, who’s challenging Sen. John Sampson, calling Smitherman a “true ally” who can help further City Hall’s agenda in Albany . * Which democratic vision will rule Albany after the elections? The Cuomo one orthe one by whom? (CrainsNY) * Sampson supporters call Democrat rival a Republican(NYP)
This is An Interesting Picture of Mr. Brooklyn
“You are innocent until proven guilty and we will see where the chips fall,” Markowitz told The Post, explaining why he’s backing a candidate who faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on federal corruption charges.also donated $250 to his campaign
De Blasio Endorses Sampson Foe Smitherman(YNN)
* 1199 SEIU says state Sen. John Sampson—who faces federal embezzlement charges—is recycling old pictures and quotes to make it appear he has the union's support in the Democratic primary when in fact he doesn’t, the Daily News
NYP Prints Opponents Press Release Attacking Indicted Sampson for Repeating His Crime* 1199 SEIU says state Sen. John Sampson—who faces federal embezzlement charges—is recycling old pictures and quotes to make it appear he has the union's support in the Democratic primary when in fact he doesn’t, the Daily News
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| Sampson's Groundhog Day |
I called Sampson's DO inquiring about fling error, hung up on. Called back, asked for campaign info, aide threatened to "kick my white ass."
Sampson Aide Melvin Lowe IndictedSampson aide charged in fraud(NYP) A former top aide to indicted state Sen. John Sampson was indicted himself Thursday on a host of fraud and tax crimes — including charges that he defrauded the state Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee out of $100,000.Melvin Lowe, 52, allegedly scammed the cash out of the DSCC in 2010 by getting a printing vendor to send the committee a fake invoice and then forward $75,000 of the cash to himself, said Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara while announcing the nine-count indictment returned by a White Plains grand jury.
Aqueduct racino report exposes ethics lapses of John Sampson ...
Another Pol Convicted, Baldeo
Most of Sampson Money Comes From unindicted co-conspirator in an extortion plot that figured in the racketeering trial of ex-Gambino boss Peter Gotti
One of Sampson’s campaign donors is a mob associate(NYP)At least one major contributor doesn’t care that Brooklyn state Sen. John Sampson is running for re-election while facing corruption charges — a former legal client with ties to the mob, The Post has learned. Election records show the pol’s dwindling list of donors includes reputed Gambino crime-family associate George Fortunato, who last month gave $10,500. According to the Democrat’s latest campaign filing, the Brooklyn businessman provided more than 90 percent of the funds raised between July 15 and Aug. 4.
Another Pol Convicted, Baldeo
Tthe fact that Albert Baldeo lost his election does not excuse his corrupt conduct. With today’s verdict of guilty, an impartial federal jury has found that Baldeo lied and instructed others to lie to law enforcement agents investigating the source of his campaign contributions, and threatened and intimidated others in order to conceal the truth,” Mr. Bharara said in a statement. “These practices have no place in our politics or our justice system, and there should be no doubt that this Office will prosecute such conduct while it continues to vigorously investigate and prosecute political corruption in New York City and New York State.”
Black Pool Consultant Indicted By Feds
The Rapfogel, Lowe Forest City Ratner Connection
BATTLE FOR THE CITY! Bold, brash Nets set to take Knicks rivalry to new heights(NYDN)
Melvin Lowe Sampson Update
Former Sampson aide Says he nnot in complaint(CrainsNY)
A former top aide to ex-Senate Democratic leader John Sampson says he's
not the "Political Consultant #1" mentioned in a federal complaint
charging political operative Melvin Lowe with defrauding the state
Senate Democrats' campaign arm. Mr. Cohen has hired prominent criminal
defense lawyer Sanford Talkin, who declined to comm
Mushrooming Corruption Probe
Sampson crony eyed in 400G pay probe
(NYP)
He was John Sampson’s $400,000 man. Melvin Lowe, a former top
political aide to the indicted state senator, is being eyed by federal
prosecutors as part of a mushrooming probe. Lowe was among the eight
Democratic elected officials and staffers
secretly taped by ex-state Sen. Shirley Huntley, who was sentenced last
week to one year imprisonment for her own fraud conviction. The fact
that the feds directed Huntley to try to tape Lowe — whom Sampson
brought in as his political guru
during his brief but stormy tenure as the Senate leader — had state
capital insiders buzzing that more bombshells could drop in the Albany
corruption investigation. * Lack of enforcement helped Sampson slip through cracks(CrainsNY)
Lowe made a tidy sum during his one-year tenure. The Democratic
Senatorial Campaign Committee paid his two firms — G&L consulting
and Prestige Strategic Communications — a combined $250,000 in 2009-10. Around
the same time, Sampson paid Lowe an additional $150,000 from his
personal campaign committee — even though the Brooklyn pol did not face a
tough re-election fight.* NY Working Families Party-Backed CandidatesTouched By Corruption Scandals(NYDN) * Largely Unknown DSCC Consultant Cleared $300k In Last Year(City and State)
Other Consultant Lobbyists Paid by DSCC
Bill Lynch Assoc, GLOBAL STRATEGIES, LLC, The Advance Group, The Parkside Group,Marc Guma Communications (partnered with Hank Morris), Mirram Group)
In Consulting Group, Hints of How Albany Works(NYT)
Lowe Yonkers Corruption Nexus
Lowe — who worked as a lobbyist for Forest City Ratner — was also
subpoenaed as part of the federal probe of the company’s Ridge Hill
development in Yonkers.
Developer of Major New Rochelle Project, Forest City Ratner, Bribed Yonkers Official Sexy Sandy Annabi, U.S. Attorney Charges (Talk of the Sound) * A Forest City Ratner executive whose cozy relationship with state Sen. Carl Kruger is featured in a new criminal complaint against the Brooklyn politician personally lobbied a Yonkers councilman hours before a controversial vote that later led to bribery charges against a councilwoman. Yonkers Council Majority Leader John Murtagh Jr. said FCR Vice President Bruce Bender leaned on him in 2006 to change his expected vote opposing a controversial FCR development. Kruger crony leaned on me for vote: pol. Sampson was senator #1 in the Kruger indictment. Shocking than Kruger's $500000 gift to Bruce - Atlantic Yards Report * Window Into Developer’s Relentless Quest to Get a Yonkers Project Approved(NYT) * Annabi verdict is latest win for U.S. attorney(LoHud)
Feds Focus On Sampson's Mystery Bag Man Melvin Lowe
Sampson crony eyed in 400G pay probe
(NYP)
He was John Sampson’s $400,000 man. Melvin Lowe, a former top
political aide to the indicted state senator, is being eyed by federal
prosecutors as part of a mushrooming probe. Lowe was among the eight
Democratic elected officials and staffers
secretly taped by ex-state Sen. Shirley Huntley, who was sentenced last
week to one year imprisonment for her own fraud conviction. The fact
that the feds directed Huntley to try to tape Lowe — whom Sampson
brought in as his political guru
during his brief but stormy tenure as the Senate leader — had state
capital insiders buzzing that more bombshells could drop in the Albany
corruption investigation. * Lack of enforcement helped Sampson slip through cracks(CrainsNY)
Other Consultant Lobbyists Paid by DSCC
Bill Lynch Assoc, GLOBAL STRATEGIES, LLC, The Advance Group, The Parkside Group,Marc Guma Communications (partnered with Hank Morris), Mirram Group)
In Consulting Group, Hints of How Albany Works(NYT)
Lowe Yonkers Corruption Nexus
Developer of Major New Rochelle Project, Forest City Ratner, Bribed Yonkers Official Sexy Sandy Annabi, U.S. Attorney Charges (Talk of the Sound) * A Forest City Ratner executive whose cozy relationship with state Sen. Carl Kruger is featured in a new criminal complaint against the Brooklyn politician personally lobbied a Yonkers councilman hours before a controversial vote that later led to bribery charges against a councilwoman. Yonkers Council Majority Leader John Murtagh Jr. said FCR Vice President Bruce Bender leaned on him in 2006 to change his expected vote opposing a controversial FCR development. Kruger crony leaned on me for vote: pol. Sampson was senator #1 in the Kruger indictment. Shocking than Kruger's $500000 gift to Bruce - Atlantic Yards Report * Window Into Developer’s Relentless Quest to Get a Yonkers Project Approved(NYT) * Annabi verdict is latest win for U.S. attorney(LoHud)
Atlantic Yards Reports Connects Indicted Sampson Bag Man to Ratner
Post: court papers indicate that indicted lobbyist Lowe admits fraud; consultant had ties to Forest City, though not part of charges
The New York Post reported 8/2014, Ex-Sampson aide admits to swiping $100K from officials
Indicted state Sen. John Sampson has been thrown under the bus to the feds by a former top aide who is also in big trouble with the law, new court papers reveal.Lowe has admitted that he failed to file tax returns for 2010 to 2012, despite earning $923,000. His trial is September 2.
Melvin Lowe admitted during confidential meetings with prosecutors that he defrauded the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee out of $100,000 – and gave $75,000 of the money to “Senator #1,” the filing says. A source said “Senator #1” is Lowe’s ex-boss, Sampson (D-Brooklyn), who is fighting charges that he, himself, also committed fraud and tax crimes.
As I wrote in July, 2010, DSCC consultant Lowe, connected to Sampson and Ratner (and Boyland's challenge to Montgomery), racks up the bucks. City Hall News broke the news that "Largely Unknown DSCC Consultant Cleared $300k In Last Year."
Here's brief coverage from 8/31/09 about Lowe's DSCC hiring, his role in Forest City's Ridge Hill project, and a report (which I never corroborated) of consulting work regarding Atlantic Yards.
When the charges surfaced
Last October, I wrote Former Forest City Ratner lobbyist Melvin Lowe, Sampson crony, charged with corruption.
None of the charges involved Forest City or any other developer. But it continued a remarkable string of corruption charges regarding people with ties to Forest City, including Carl Kruger, Sandy Annabi, Richard Lipsky, and William Rapfogel, as well as Sampson.
Lowe was mentioned, though not called as a witness, during the 2012 Yonkers corruption trial. "Are you familiar with a company known as Westchester Invaders?" asked William Aronwald, defense attorney for Annabi, the former Council Member who flipped her vote to benefit Forest City's Ridge Hill project and was later convicted. "Isn't it true Forest City Ratner made a contribution of $10,000 to Westchester Invaders at Council Member [Patricia] McDow's or [FCR lobbyist] Melvin Lowe's request?"
"I can't recall," replied former Forest City governmental affairs EVP Bruce Bender.
As I wrote, Westchester Invaders is a drum and bugle corps that McDow has saluted, but I couldn't find corroborating evidence of a Forest City Ratner contribution. Then again, it would not be out of line with company practices in Brooklyn.
None of the charges involved Forest City or any other developer. But it continued a remarkable string of corruption charges regarding people with ties to Forest City, including Carl Kruger, Sandy Annabi, Richard Lipsky, and William Rapfogel, as well as Sampson.
Lowe was mentioned, though not called as a witness, during the 2012 Yonkers corruption trial. "Are you familiar with a company known as Westchester Invaders?" asked William Aronwald, defense attorney for Annabi, the former Council Member who flipped her vote to benefit Forest City's Ridge Hill project and was later convicted. "Isn't it true Forest City Ratner made a contribution of $10,000 to Westchester Invaders at Council Member [Patricia] McDow's or [FCR lobbyist] Melvin Lowe's request?"
"I can't recall," replied former Forest City governmental affairs EVP Bruce Bender.
As I wrote, Westchester Invaders is a drum and bugle corps that McDow has saluted, but I couldn't find corroborating evidence of a Forest City Ratner contribution. Then again, it would not be out of line with company practices in Brooklyn.
Capitol Confidential » Sen. Sampson's AEG review goes missing
The Aqueduct racino deal: AEG deal seen as unethical but not illegal; Sampson-Andrews leak provokes more controversy; bonus: AY/AEG parallels
Racino probe targets Dems' high rollers | New York Post
senate leader says he leaked memo to aqueduct bidder ... - City R
Sampson, AEG in Aqueduct memo flap • TimesLedger
Sampson Spent $5,000 In Campaign Cash On AEG Probe- NY
Sampson crony eyed in 400G pay probe | New York Post
Sampson aide charged in fraud | New York Post
Inspector General Report Rocks State Senate Democratic ...
Those papers also disclosed for the first time that Sampson's mole -- federal paralegal Samuel Noel -- later became a cooperating witness for prosecutors investigating the Brooklyn senator after Noel's betrayal was uncovered last year.
Those papers also disclosed for the first time that Sampson's mole -- federal paralegal Samuel Noel -- later became a cooperating witness for prosecutors investigating the Brooklyn senator after Noel's betrayal was uncovered last year.
Sampson Meets With His Mole
The
documents filed by prosecutors also reveal the 46-year-old
Brooklyn resident Noel last September secretly pleaded guilty to a
misdemeanor
charge for having accessed accessing an internal Justice Department
computer in 2011 in an effort to help Sampson get confidential
information about investigations. "On a weekend day in either August or
September 2011, Noel received a
phone call from Sampson asking if they could meet," court papers
unsealed today said. "When Noel met Sampson, Sampson asked Noel, in
substance, whether Noel knew if Sampson's name had come up in an
investigation being conducted by the [US Attorney's Office]." That
investigation was of a Sampson legal client named Edul "Eddie" Ahmad, a
Guyanese businessman under investigation for a massive mortgage fraud.
"Noel responded in substance that he did not know the answer, but would
attempt to find out."Sampson also asked Noel to learn the names of
people who were cooperating with the probe of Ahmad, according to the
filing. That
information would have been of keen interest to Sampson, who
prosecutors claim had obtained an undisclosed $188,500 loan from Ahmad
to help cover up his alleged embezzlement. * For Democrats, Corruption Arrest Is One More Barrier to Control of the State Senate(NYT)
A former top aide to
indicted state Sen. John Sampson has been
busted on a range of fraud and tax crimes – including charges he bilked
the New York Democratic.Sampson – who paid Lowe $150,000 out of his
campaign chest in 2009-‘10 – was charged in May with embezzling $440,000
from foreclosure escrow accounts he managed as well as witness and
evidence tampering. Any number of individuals fit the description of
this consultant,
including Michael Cohen, former chief of staff to ex-Senate Democratic
Leader John Sampson, who brought Lowe into the DSCC
following the infamous 2009 Senate coup and was heading up the
conference at the time the events laid out in this complaint took place.
Notably, Mr. Lowe was among nine individuals–mostly sitting state senators–that now-former State Senator Shirley Huntley recorded on wire while she was cooperating with authorities. Ms. Huntley is currently serving a year in prison for her own corruption scheme; the pols she wiretapped have professed their innocence. “Today’s Complaint alleges that New York’s culture of political corruption extends beyond elected officials to the relatively unknown professional political insiders who work behind the scenes to carry out corrupt schemes,” said Mr. Bharara, who has indicted a slew of New York politician, in a statement.“Our investigation will continue and we will continue bringing to justice every corrupt official we find, as well as those who allegedly execute their unlawful plots.”
Sampson Has Many Many Road Blocks To Regaining the Senate Major Position
Two
Orthodox Jewish sources with direct knowledge of ex-Councilman Simcha
Felder’s thinking say he will caucus with the Senate Democrats if he
wins election this fall in Brooklyn's so-called “Super-Jewish” district.
That represents a major turnaround for the Senate Democrats, who looked
to have an uphill battle in the heavily Orthodox district, when
Councilman Lew Fidler performed poorly among the socially conservative
community in his March 20 special election in an overlapping district.
Felder has already said he's running on the Democrats' ballot line. It's
also a loss for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who courted favor
with major social service groups like Agudath Israel to try and win the
Super-Jewish seat. But the good news for Democrats comes with a caveat.
If Felder somehow ended up being the deciding vote in swinging Senate
leadership, he has told people he will likely vote for Skelos over
Democratic Minority Leader John Sampson. Still, that may not be a
problem anytime soon, even though the chamber is divided 32-30, since
the four-member Independent Democratic Conference does not look likely
to rejoin the Democratic fold. And it’s also not that surprising, given
that Felder is a moderate Democrat.(City and State)
Feds launch probe into former NY state Senate Majority Leader ...
Former Forest City Ratner lobbyist Melvin Lowe, Sampson crony, charged with corruption; charges do not involve developer
John Sampson Arrested: New York State Senator Charged With
Sampson's Arrest Further Hurts Albany Democrats - NYTimes.c
Senator John Sampson Indicted Again | New York Observer
Senate's John Sampson Scores Big With Law Firm(Village Voice)
It's good to be the king! State senate leader John Sampson - who only a few months was just another Court Street lawyer scurrying for cases in Brooklyn - has hit the big time. The Post reports that the Democratic majority leader is now "of counsel" to one of the state's biggest personal injur ... More >>
It's good to be the king! State senate leader John Sampson - who only a few months was just another Court Street lawyer scurrying for cases in Brooklyn - has hit the big time. The Post reports that the Democratic majority leader is now "of counsel" to one of the state's biggest personal injur ... More >>
Michael Cohen, the former district office chief of staff for Mr.
Sampson, now works for the New York lobbying firm Pitta Bishop Del
Giorno and Giblin. A firm spokesman said that Mr. Cohen maintains that
"Political Consultant #1" in the charges against Mr. Lowe unveiled this
week was "not him." Mr. Cohen has hired prominent criminal defense
lawyer Sanford Talkin, who declined to comment.
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