U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said in a complaint just released that state Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, D-Queens, used a consulting company to conceal more than $500,000 in “corrupt payments” from various entities with business before the state.
Seminerio was charged with honest services mail fraud, a felony which carries up to 20 years in prison.
The complaint says that from April 2000 through this month, Seminerio engaged in a scheme to defraud the public using a purported consulting firm, named Marc Consultants, to solicit and receive “consulting” payments from people having business before the state.
Garcia charged that Seminerio did little or no consulting work and instead received the $500,000 in order to push for “for favorable treatment” in the Assembly and in state government.
For example, the complaints states that Seminerio was paid $310,000 by a New York City hospital who had business before the state through Marc Consultants. Also, a Medicaid-managed health care plan affiliated with the hospital paid approximately $80,000 to him through the Marc Consultants Bank Account.
The FBI used wiretaps and undercover officers to charge Seminerio. The undercover officer told Seminerio, in one case, that he wanted assistance pursuing brownfield redevelopment projects.
In exchange for $25,000 in payments to Marc Consultants, Seminerio is accused of using his official position to arrange for the undercover officer to meet and discuss with heads of the state legislative committees who oversee the re-development of polluted, former industrial sites.
There was no immediate comment from Seminerio’s office.
You can read the complaints here.
