FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com JULY 9, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 11 Former state Senator Malcolm Smith gets seven years for bribery BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAFF [email protected] @QueensCourier Former state Senator Malcolm Smith was sentenced to seven years in prison on July 1 after trying to bribe his way onto the GOP ballot in the 2013 mayoral election, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Offi ce of the Southern District of New York. Smith, 58, was found guilty on all counts in a federal corruption trial in February following only four hours of jury deliberations. An earlier attempt to prosecute Smith ended in June with a mistrial. Once one of the most powerful elected offi cials in state government during his brief tenure as Senate president and later a member of the breakaway Independent Democrats, Smith — who represented south Queens — is scheduled to surrender to authorities Sept. 21, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Offi ce. Smith lost his reelection bid in a primary to Leroy Comrie in September 2014. Federal prosecutors had reportedly asked for up to 10 years in prison for Smith and eight for former Queens GOP vice chair Vincent Tabone, who was found guilty on all counts in the same trial as Smith. He was also sentenced Wednesday to 42 months in prison for receiving bribes and witness tampering after being busted as part of the plot to rig the Republican mayoral primary by bribing the party’s leaders in three counties to allow Smith, a Democrat, a place on the GOP ballot. Then-Queens Councilman Dan Halloran was additionally among several offi cials arrested by the FBI in April 2013 in the plot. Halloran, who declined to run for re-election the year of his arrest, was found guilty on all fi ve counts against him in July 2014 in a separate trial and later sentenced to 10 years behind bars. Smith was also sentenced to two years of supervised release, and Tabone, 48, additionally received one year supervised release and ordered to forfeit $25,000. He will need to surrender on Oct. 1. “Bribes and kickbacks should never play a role in the selection of candidates for public offi ce. By attempting to buy and sell a spot on New York City’s mayoral ballot, Malcolm Smith and Vincent Tabone corrupted one of the most fundamental tenets of the democratic process, that candidates cannot bribe their way onto a ballot,” Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said. “Today’s sentences File photo make clear that the cost of violating the public trust in this way will be measured in years in a federal prison.” Great rates like ours are always in season. 18-Month CD 1.50%APY* At Flushing Bank, we’re small enough to know you and large enough to provide you with the great rates you’re looking for. Hurry, an offer like this can’t last forever. For more information and to find out about our other great offers, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. $5,000 minimum deposit *New money only. APY effective June 30, 2015. Annual percentage yield assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for a full year at current rate. Minimum deposit balance of $5,000 is required. Funds cannot be transferred from an existing Flushing Bank account. Premature withdrawals may be subject to bank and IRS penalties. Rates and offer are subject to change without notice. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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