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New York corruption scandals: Here's who has been convicted in 2018

Can't keep track of all the corruption scandals in New York state government? You're not alone.
State Capital Building in Albany

By Jon Campbell, Gannett Albany

ALBANY — Can't keep track of all the corruption scandals in New York state government? You're not alone.

2018 has been a busy year for corruption convictions in the Empire State, with some of the state's most powerful lawmakers and some of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top allies among those who have been found guilty since the year began.

Many of those government officials are due for sentencing in the days and months ahead.

Here's who has been convicted since the beginning of the year and when they're expected to learn their fate:

Joseph Percoco

Who?: One of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's closest personal friends for more than two decades; served as a top aide and campaign manager to Cuomo.

What he was convicted of: Percoco, a South Salem resident, accepted more than $320,000 from COR Development and CPV Energy, a pair of companies with business before the state that leaned on Percoco for favors. Much of the money was paid by CPV through a lucrative job for Percoco's wife that required little work.

He was convicted of one felony bribery count and two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.

When?: A jury convicted Percoco (along with COR executive Steven Aiello) in March. Jurors acquitted another COR executive, Joseph Gerardi, and couldn't reach a verdict on Peter Galbraith Kelly of CPV, who later agreed to a plea deal.

Sentencing: Percoco is due for sentencing Aug 10. Prosecutors are seeking a "significant" prison term of more than five years; Percoco's attorneys are looking for two years.

Alain Kaloyeros

​​​​​​​Who?: The founding president of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Kaloyeros was trusted by Cuomo to oversee many of the governor's top economic-development initiatives, including the Buffalo Billion program.

What was he convicted of?: Kaloyeros was found to have rigged the bid for contracts that led to state-funded jobs worth more than $850 million, including a $750 million job to build a Tesla/Panasonic solar-panel manufacturing facility that is the centerpiece of the Buffalo Billion.

The contracts went to LPCiminelli and COR Development, whose executives were also convicted.

When?: Jurors convicted Kaloyeros, LPCiminelli's Louis Ciminelli and COR's Aiello and Gerardi on July 12. They've vowed to appeal.

Sentencing: Kaloyeros' sentencing is set for Oct. 11.

Sheldon Silver

Who?: Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, was one of the most powerful people in New York government during his two-decade tenure as speaker of the state Assembly, which ended when he was indicted in 2015.

What was he convicted of?: Silver, an attorney, was convicted of accepting $4 million disguised as legal payments from law firms specializing in real estate and asbestos claims.

In return, he steered research dollars to a Columbia University cancer researcher who was directing clients to him, which he referred to the asbestos firm in exchange for fees. He directed Glenwood Management, a major real estate firm and campaign donor, to steer work to the real estate law firm that was paying him.

When?: Jurors first convicted Silver in November 2015, but his convicted was overturned in 2017 after the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the corruption law he was convicted under. Prosecutors were allowed to retry the case, however, and secured a second conviction in May.

Sentencing: Silver is due for sentencing July 27. He was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison with a $1.75 million fine and $5.2 million in forfeiture before his previous conviction was overturned.

Dean Skelos

​​​​​​​Who?: A Nassau County Republican, Skelos was the powerful state Senate majority leader in 2008 and from 2011 through 2015.

What was he convicted of?: Skelos was found guilty of using his considerable influence and power to secure more than $300,000 for his adult son, Adam, through low-show jobs and a $20,000 payment from firms with business before the state.

Adam Skelos was also found guilty.

When?: Dean and Adam Skelos were originally convicted by a jury in 2015 before their verdicts were overturned when the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the corruption law they were charged under. But, like Silver, they were convicted in a retrial this year -- July 17, specifically.

Sentencing: Dean Skelos is due for sentencing Oct. 24. He was previously sentenced to 5 years in prison after before his first conviction was overturned.

Marc Panepinto

​​​​​​​Who?: Panepinto served a single term in the state Senate in 2015 and 2016.

What was he convicted of?: The Buffalo Democrat pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of promising benefits for political activity.

Panepinto tried to cover up unwanted sexual advances by offering his victim, a staff member of his, a job or money to stay quiet.

When?: Panepinto entered his plea in late June.

Sentencing: He's due for sentencing Oct. 2. He faces up to a year in prison and a fine.

George Maziarz

​​​​​​​Who?: A Niagara County power broker, Maziarz served 20 years in the state Senate before stepping aside in 2015. His district stretched into the Rochester area.

What was he convicted of?: Maziarz pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of offering a false instrument for filing.

It was quite the plea bargain for Maziarz: He had been facing trial on five felonies before the state Attorney General's Office agreed to the deal.

He was accused of orchestrating a scheme to hide payments from his campaign to a former staffer who had been accused of sexual harassment.

When?: Maziarz agreed to the plea deal in March.

Sentencing: He paid a $1,000 fine.

Pamela Harris

Who?: Harris, D-Brooklyn, was a state assemblywoman in 2016 and 2017.

What was she convicted of?: She pleaded guilty to four felonies after prosecutors had charged Harris with fraudulently pocketing $25,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $23,000 in New York City funds that were meant for Coney Island Generation Gap, a non-profit she once led.

When: She pleaded guilty in June.

Sentencing: Harris is due for sentencing Sept. 26.

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