Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Former NYC Lawmaker Sentenced To 10 Years For Fraud, Embezzlement

Brian M. McLaughlin, 57, and a former assemblyman for the New York City borough of Queens, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for fraud and embezzlement. McLaughlin pleaded guilty last year to charges of racketeering and perjury, admitting he embezzling $3.1 million from labor groups, his own re−election committee and the Electchester Little League. Prosecutors alleged that McLaughlin also took kickbacks from electrical contractors and used the funds in part to buy automobiles for his wife and his former mistress, Sonia Menezes. His alleged criminal activity occurred between 1995 and 2006, according to prosecutors. McLaughlin, a Democrat, was also the president of the New York City Central Labor Council. He is reported to have cooperated with prosecutors, leading to the recent indictments of Queens Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio and Santo (Sandy) Petrocelli, the former head of Petrocelli Electric. McLaughlin, who was originally indicted in October 2006, is scheduled to start his prison sentence on July 21st.

Read the story here, here and here.

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