NEW YORK CITY — Former State Sen. Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, were found guilty on all charges in their corruption case on Friday afternoon, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announced.
Skelos, 67, and his son were convicted on all eight counts of bribery, extortion and conspiracy charges after they conducted a kickback scheme for years, taking money from an environmental company while hiding it from authorities, Bharara said.
How many prosecutions will it take before Albany gives the people of New York the honest government they deserve? @SDNYnews
— US Attorney Bharara (@PreetBharara) December 11, 2015The charges stemmed from Skelos abusing his official position by extorting money from others by getting payments for his son Adam Skelos, 32, from companies he promised to help using his position in government, according federal prosecutors.
The convictions come a week after former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was found guilty for fraud, extortion and money laundering related to two bribery schemes.
Skelos and Silver were part of the powerful "three men in the room" — along with Gov. Andrew Cuomo — said to make all the decision in Albany until Bharara brought charges against them as part of his anti-corruption push.
Skelos and his son face up to 130 years in prison at sentencing.
