New York state senator is charged with embezzling

Pedro Espada, son are accused of taking $50,000 from a a not-for-profit healthcare clinic the senator founded

Published December 14, 2010 11:45PM (EST)

New York and federal authorities say a state senator and his son have been indicted on six charges that they embezzled more than $500,000 from a New York City health clinic the senator founded.

Democrat Pedro Espada, who lost his fall re-election bid, and his son Pedro Gautier Espada are accused of taking money from Comprehensive Community Development Corp., a federally funded not-for-profit known as Soundview.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says they could face up to 10 years in prison on each of five embezzlement charges, five years for the single conspiracy count and fines of $250,000 on each.

The indictment by U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch in Brooklyn follows a joint state-federal investigation.

Espada didn't immediately return a request for comment.


By Associated Press

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