New York is poised to collect nearly $3.3 billion from a recent record settlement with France's largest bank, and the Cuomo administration plans to add it to the state's general fund.
It's more than enough to fund the state's prison system or its child welfare programs for a year. The administration says the windfall will be used to help limit annual spending growth to less than 2 percent, not on special one-time programs or projects.
And $298 million from the settlement will go into a special fund for addiction treatment at the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, officials said. That's a 51 percent boost above the agency's budget for the year.
"Our Department of Financial Services is an effective and forceful regulator, and we will continue to enforce our anti-money laundering rules," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last week in announcing New York's role in the bank investigation.
BNP Paribas reached the $8.83 billion overall settlement with federal and state authorities for violating U.S. trade sanctions and conducting dollar transactions for clients in Sudan, Iran and Cuba. The bank acknowledged that $190 billion in transactions went through its New York office and other branches while hiding client identities for more than a decade.
It's the largest single settlement for New York's Department of Financial Services, which regulates banking and insurance. The department also is collecting $715 million from Credit Suisse for cross-border banking violations, part of a larger settlement with state and federal authorities in May.
BNP Paribas pleaded guilty to New York criminal charges of falsifying business records and conspiracy and faces a federal charge. Its punishments include a one-year suspension of dollar-clearing transactions through its state-licensed New York branch in 2015. The bank's shares rose in international trading last week after it said it could pay the entire amount.
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New York's civil penalty, due July 30, is $2.24 billion.
An additional $1.05 billion for the state general fund is expected from reparations to the Manhattan district attorney. That's being distributed under terms set by state law, as well as the money for addictions treatment, according to the district attorney's office.
The Manhattan DA's office is set to receive nearly $449 million, about five times more than its annual budget, with New York City receiving an additional $447 million.
Manhattan prosecutors plan to use their share for law enforcement projects. Past settlements have been used for cybercrime and courtroom technology, witness counseling and a unit focusing on human trafficking. Initiatives under consideration include public housing safety, upgrading city police technology in precincts and a study of the illegal gun market.
