Thursday, February 19, 2015

FORMER N.Y. ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SHELDON SILVER INDICTED ON FRAUD, EXTORTION CHARGES. SILVER ALLEGEDLY AMASSED A ‘PERSONAL FORTUNE’ THROUGH KICKBACKS, REFERRALS TO A LAW FIRM



FEBRUARY 19, 2015

ALBANY, NEW YORK

Former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday in a case against him by the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office.

Mr. Silver, a Democrat, was accused by federal prosecutors in a 35-page complaint unsealed in January of using his political power to amass a “tremendous personal fortune” through kickbacks from real-estate developers and referrals to a personal-injury law firm.

The former speaker, who held that position for 21 years until he resigned from his leadership post under pressure from his conference in the wake of the complaint, has said he is innocent and will be vindicated in court.

“Our client is not guilty,” Mr. Silver’s attorneys, Joel Cohen and Steven Melo, said Thursday. “We can now begin to fight for his total vindication. We will do our fighting where it should be done: in court.” 

The jury announced its decision in federal magistrate court on Thursday. The 25-page indictment lays out three charges against Mr. Silver, including mail fraud, wire fraud and extortion. The criminal complaint on which Mr. Silver was arrested listed five counts, including conspiracy, which isn’t listed in the indictment.

The conspiracy charges weren’t presented to the grand jury, said a person familiar with the proceedings. 

The indictment only names Mr. Silver. In order for conspiracy charges to be presented, there needs to be a co-conspirator. 

Of course these are just charges;  he is considered innocent until proven guilty by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt