By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
Former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded guilty Thursday to lying to the White House and tax crimes as part of a deal with prosecutors that would consolidate the three federal cases against him.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara issued a statement calling it "a sad day," but added, "No one is above the law."
The plea in Manhattan Federal Court will likely result in a 27 to 33 month prison sentence for Kerik, who faces three federal trials over corruption charges, the New York Times reported.
The judge told Kerik the maximum sentence for the counts is 61 years in prison. The judge is not bound by the terms of the plea agreement.
The New York Post reported that the city's former "top cop" told his wife to stay away from the court hearings.
Kerik is charged with corruption for granting city contracts to a construction firm with mob ties in exchange for city contracts, withholding information from a team vetting him to become Secretary of Homeland Security and hiding assets from the IRS.
