BROOKLYN — Disgraced former Bronx State Senator Perdro Espada Jr. was sentenced to five years in prison Friday for tax evasion and stealing money from a public health clinic, The New York Times reported.
Espada was convicted last May of stealing $500,000 from the struggling Soundview Healthcare Network in The Bronx.
Judge Frederic Block sentenced Espada in Brooklyn Federal Court Friday afternoon. Espada had accused the judge of pressuring the jury, claiming Block spoke to jurors during their deliberations, the Daily News reported.
But Block said he was not in the courthouse when two jurors reportedly claimed the judge spoke with them.
The jury deadlocked on other charges of theft, fraud and conspiracy, with Espada later pleading guilty to tax evasion charges.
Espada was also sentenced to pay $368,088 in forfeiture, $368,087.43 in restitution and $118,531 to the IRS for his tax evasion, the News reported.
His son, Pedro Gautier Espada, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18 in connection with the charges.
