Former New York State Senator Monserrate indicted on federal corruption charges

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Former New York State Senator Monserrate indicted on federal corruption charges

2010-10-20 07:32:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- Former New York State Senator Hiram Monserrate on Tuesday was indicted on federal corruption charges after funneling taxpayer money into a nonprofit organization and then used it for his Senate campaign.

Monserrate was expelled from office earlier this year. He pleaded not guilty to the two-count indictment on mail fraud and conspiracy charges and was subsequently released on a $500,000 bond.

The former State Senator and New York City Council member is accused of misusing more than $100,000 in discretionary funds he directed himself to a New York City-based non-profit to finance his failed 2006 campaign for Senate.

"As we move into the heart of the political season, today's indictment of Hiriam Monserrate should serve as a reminder. No campaign should ever be funded by fraud," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.

Prosecutors allege that during the fiscal years 2006 and 2007, Monserrate, while serving as a member of the New York City Council, directed around $300,000 in discretionary funds to the Latino Initiative for Better Resources and Empowerment Inc. (LIBRE).

After that, the former public official used $109,000 of LIBRE funds to finance and promote in different ways his failed Senate campaign. In 2006, LIBRE, using such funds, conducted a voter registration drive focused on the 13th Senate district, the one for which Monserrate sought nomination.

LIBRE workers told the newly-registered individuals that the nonprofit would submit the applications to the New York City Board of Elections. However, Monserrate directed LIBRE to create a database with the information of these individuals and gave it to workers affiliated with his Senate campaign.

LIBRE was ordered to submit the voter-registration applications shortly before the August 18 deadline. Thus, Monserrate gained an advantage by being the only candidate aware that these particular people would be eligible for voting and should be targeted with campaign messages.

Monserrate also paid thousands of dollars to certain LIBRE employees to perform work on behalf of the defendant's political campaign on seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party to run for Senate for the 13th Senate District.

Another fraud scheme executed by Monserrate involved petitioning and canvassing for the same political campaign. In order to be included on the ballot for a political party's primary election, a person must obtain at least five percent of signatures of the party's enrolled voters in the relevant district on so-called designating petitions.

In June and July 2006, LIBRE used Council funds to pay workers to gather signatures of registered voters on petitions designating Monserrate as the Democratic Party candidate. The LIBRE workers, under direction of Monserrate, also ordered the voters to sign the designating petitions as witnesses.

If convicted, the former State Senator faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison for each count in the indictment.

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