Suburban NY officials plead not guilty in corruption case

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — The highest elected official in a large county outside New York City and a town supervisor pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges that they conspired to receive bribes and kickbacks from a businessman in exchange for helping him obtain $20 million in loan guarantees. “Yet again, we announce a breach of trust by two of our public officials,” U.S. Attorney Robert Capers said at a press conference. […] Harendra Singh, the former owner of a Bethpage restaurant and other facilities on Long Island, is awaiting trial on federal bribery charges involving Oyster Bay officials. Public corruption wastes countless tax dollars every year, threatens the credibility of governmental institutions, and opens the door for further criminal activity, said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney. In other corruption cases, former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son were convicted last year of extortion, conspiracy and bribery. Former Suffolk Conservative Party head Ed Walsh was convicted in March of wire fraud and theft of government services charges and former Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke is awaiting sentencing on charges he beat a suspect in a precinct interview room after the man stole various items from Burke’s SUV.