State Senator Expected to Plead Guilty to Corruption Charges

Brooklyn Democrat Carl Kruger would lose his seat if he cops to a felony charge.

State Sen. Carl Kruger was expected to plead guilty to a litany of corruption charges Tuesday as part of a plea deal with federal investigators, according to multiple reports.

The Brooklyn Democrat was charged in March with federal corruption, conspiracy and money-laundering for allegedly taking at least $1 million in bribes from associates and lobbyists in exchange for favors since 2006. He initially entered a not guilty plea in April.

Under the deal, Kruger is expected to plead guilty to four bribery- and fraud-related counts, at least one of which is a felony, reports the Daily News. A felony guilty plea would force him to immediately abdicate the Albany seat he’s held since 1994, according to state law.

It wasn’t known how much jail time Kruger would face under the deal.

Neither Kruger's attorney nor a court spokesman could immediately be reached for comment, the New York Post and Daily News reported.

Kruger was the powerful Senate Finance Committee chairman from 2008 to 2010 when Democrats controlled the Senate.  

Prosecutors alleged the 62-year-old politician unfairly helped a developer, a lobbyist and two hospital executives as part of the bribery scheme.

Also Tuesday, Kruger’s partner and co-defendant, gynecologist Dr. Michael Turano, was expected to plead guilty to one count of bribery conspiracy in federal court, reports The New York Post.

Turano allegedly helped funnel the bribes through two shell corporations, which are used as conduits for business transactions and don’t actually have any assets of their own. The doctor allegedly used the bribe money to fund his own extravagant lifestyle.

As part of the plea deal, money-laundering charges against both Turano and Kruger would be dropped, reports the Post.

Kruger’s trial had been scheduled to start Jan. 17.

After his arrest in March, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said at a news conference that no matter how often the alarm goes off about corruption, Albany hits the "snooze button."

"We are still up to our eyeballs with corruption," he said at the time. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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