SHARE

Ex-State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Son Sentenced To Prison

This story has been updated.

Former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos

Former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos

Photo Credit: File photo
Former state Assemblyman Sheldon Silver

Former state Assemblyman Sheldon Silver

Photo Credit: File photo

Former New York State Republican Senate majority leader Dean Skelos, was sentenced to five years in prison for corruption by a Manhattan federal judge Thursday.

It's the second prison sentence for one of the major political leaders in the Empire State in the span of just over a week.

Skelos, a Republican, and his son Adam were convicted of conspiring to use Dean Skelos’ position for jobs, fees and benefits. Dean Skelos was also found guilty in December of illegally approving a contract for a Scarsdale firm for which his son had been employed. Adam Skelos drew a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence Thursday.

Former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, was sentenced to 12 years in prison on May 3 after being found guilty by a federal jury of using his position in a $5 million money-laundering scheme. He is currently on bail. His surrender date is July 1.

“In the span of just 16 months, we have seen the arrest, prosecution, conviction, and sentencing of both leaders of the New York State legislature," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement. "The nearly simultaneous convictions of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos, whose corruption crimes were laid bare during fair and public trials, have no precedent. 

"And while Silver and Skelos deserve their prison sentences, the people of New York deserve better. 

"These cases show – and history teaches – that the most effective corruption investigations are those that are truly independent and not in danger of either interference or premature shutdown. That will continue to be our guiding principle in exposing and punishing corruption throughout New York."

For more on Silver's sentence, check this previous Daily Voice report.

to follow Daily Voice Port Chester and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE