Attorney General Indicts Queens State Senator

As part of their Joint Task Force on Public Integrity, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced a criminal indictment against State Senator Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) for directing almost $30,000 to a sham charity run by her niece and a close aide.

The indictment charges Huntley with three felony offenses – falsifying business records, conspiracy and tampering with physical evidence. Conviction for any felony means automatic forfeiture of her office, and each felony carries a potential sentence of up to 4 years.

The new indictment supersedes one that was announced in December.  Senator Huntley was not indicted at that time.

The new indictment alleges that “member item” funds were provided to Parent Workshop, Inc., a not-for-profit founded by Senator Huntley, to hold workshops for and conduct outreach to parents on the workings of the New York City public school system.  The money was funneled to Patricia Savage, an aide to the Senator, and Lynn Smith, the Senator’s niece, instead of providing the promised programs.

Huntley maintains her innocence, and a spokesperson suggested that the charges were politically motivated.  The Senator faces New York City Councilman James Sanders in the September 13^th primary election.