Joe Bruno guilty on two counts
The jury in the Joe Bruno case has found him guilty on two counts, not guilty on five and they're stuck on one of the counts. [@WNYT]
Here's a list of the counts. [CBS6]
The jury found Bruno guilty on counts 4 and 8 in the indictment (here's the TU's plain English description of the counts).
Those counts both involve Loudonville businessman Jared Abbruzzese:
- Count 4 alleged that Bruno, as "part of the scheme and artifice to defraud" the public of his honest services, took $200,000 from two Abbruzzese companies for "consulting." (indictment page 23)
- Count 8 alleged that Bruno, through his Mountain View Farm, sold a virtually worthless horse to Abbruzzese for $80,000 -- prosecutors argued the sale was compensation for a canceled consulting contract between Bruno and an another telecommunications company with which Abbruzzese was involved. (indictment page 24)
Abbruzzese testified during the trial -- under an immunity agreement -- that he had brought in Bruno for the state senator's contacts and "aura." He admitted to buying the horse from Bruno in order to settle a "moral obligation" regarding the canceled consulting contract. (He also said that Bruno introduced him to Donald Trump.) [TU] [Troy Record] [NYDN]
Each count carries a maximum 20 year sentence and fines up to $250k. Sentencing is scheduled for March 31. [DOJ/TPM] [@timesunion]
NYDN reports that Bruno left the federal courthouse in downtown Albany "looking pale and shaken" -- and told reporters "I think it's far from over." [NYDN]
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Comments
Looks like Christmas came early this year for Eliot Spitzer.
... said Jackers on Dec 7, 2009 at 4:42 PM | link
5:2:1!?!? Didn't this jury look at New York state politics? It should have been at least 1:1:6 to be as dysfunctional as the senate.
... said komradebob on Dec 7, 2009 at 4:47 PM | link
I have to admit, I haven't really been paying close attention to this. So what happens now? Will he just have to pay a fine or will he be spending the next few years making license plates? When will sentencing be? Do they know?
... said Mrs. M on Dec 7, 2009 at 4:56 PM | link
I'm betting on a fine, probation and community service - Joe's an old dude.
... said Barold on Dec 7, 2009 at 6:15 PM | link
Ah, nice. Thanks.
BTW @Jackers, 99% sure Sptizer is Jewish.
... said Mrs. M on Dec 7, 2009 at 8:07 PM | link
ES parents were Jewish (Austria). However, Eliot never had a Bar Mitzvah which is Aramaic for "to whom the Commandments apply". Maybe Mr. E should have had a Bar Mitzvah and he would be the Gov today.
... said TM on Dec 8, 2009 at 9:01 AM | link
Mrs M, I knew as soon as I posted someone was going to say that. I stand to my statement though. ES probably spent yesterday afternoon singing Joy to the World and dancing around his townhouse in his socks.
... said Jackers on Dec 8, 2009 at 10:16 AM | link