Former Advisers to Governor Indicted in Federal Bribery Case

us_v_percoco_indictmentA federal grand jury in Manhattan has returned a 14-count indictment charging eight men – including one of Gov. Cuomo’s closest aides and the former president of SUNY Polytechnic Institute – with rigging bids on upstate development projects.  The indictment is the next step in the legal process that began with the U.S. Attorney’s release of a criminal complaint in September.

The complaint accuses former Cuomo aide Joe Percoco of accepting more than $300,000 to payoffs to wield influence in the Executive Chamber, and Dr. Alain Kaloyeros of rigging bids on $850 million in development projects in Syracuse and Buffalo. In addition, the grand jury voted to indict six executives of companies that did business for bribery in order to obtain favorable treatment from the state or conspiring to rig bidding processes to ensure that they won state contracts.

The defendants all plead not guilty in September, and continue to maintain their innocence. No charges have been brought against the Governor, nor have there been any allegations that he has engaged in any wrongdoing.

Read news coverage:

New York Times: Ex-Advisers to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Are Indicted in Federal Bribery Case

Wall Street Journal:  Andrew Cuomo’s Former Top Aide Indicted on Public-Corruption Charges

Politico NY: Federal grand jury hands up indictments against Percoco, Kaloyeros

Albany Times Union: Percoco, Kaloyeros, six others indicted

Buffalo News: Eight indictments handed up in statewide pay-to-play scheme