Lawyer Told Now-Convicted Former Lawmaker Joseph Bruno to Avoid Fraud Charges by Avoiding Mail
A former longtime senior lawmaker in New York was convicted in a government corruption case today, after a state ethics lawyer on whom he relied for advice reportedly testified that he told Joseph Bruno to hand-deliver his financial disclosure forms to avoid potential mail-fraud charges.
Former state Senate majority leader, Joseph Bruno was found guilty on two felony counts in a case based on a “theft of honest services” statute and acquitted on five other counts, reports the New York Times. The jury deadlocked on another count against Bruno, who retired in 2008 as a federal investigation was heating up.
Citing his reliance on Senate lawyers concerning disclosures he made about the money he earned from outside business dealings, defense counsel contended that Bruno was the victim of overzealous prosecutors. He is expected to appeal his conviction.
A post on the Times-Union’s The Trial of Joseph L. Bruno blog, which was apparently written before the verdict, describes the testimony of Senate lawyers.
In testimony described by U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe as “extraordinary,” attorney Kenneth Riddett said he advised Bruno and other Republicans in the Senate to hand-deliver their financial disclosure forms in order to avoid federal mail-fraud charges over any false information in them. However, it isn’t clear that the lawyer was aware of any misinformation in the forms, the newspaper reports.
Bruno, who is 80, faces up to 20 years and a fine of as much as $250,000 on each of the two counts when he is sentenced in March.
He did not testify at trial but said outside the courthouse today that he is disappointed in the verdict, reports Bizjournals.com.
“The legal process is going to continue and in my mind and in my heart, it’s not over until it’s over—and it’s far from over,” said Bruno, who contends that he is innocent and broke no laws.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Former NY Senate Leader Joseph Bruno Charged With Profiteering in Office”
