Espada Convicted on Four Counts

Former state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., has been convicted on federal charges of stealing from a Bronx nonprofit health clinic that he founded that was largely Medicaid-funded.

Espada was convicted on four of the eight counts against him.  He faces up to ten years in prison on each count.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn accused Espada and his son as using the clinic as a personal slush fund to support a lavish lifestyle.  Prosecutors estimate that the four counts of theft of which he had been found guilty netted him $448,000. The Court may order him to repay that amount.

The jury was deadlocked on the four other charges against Espada, and on the eight identical charges against his son, Pedro G. Espada.

The Court ordered the prosecution to determine whether they will retry Espada on the unresolved charges by June 5^th.

Gov. Cuomo issued a statement in which he said that “Espada was the prime example of government corruption.”