By Stephen Stirling
Former state Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin is expected to be sentenced to at least eight years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to federal racketeering and fraud charges earlier this year.
McLaughlin, 55, signed a deal with federal prosecutors in March that recommended he serve between eight and 10 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea on federal racketeering and false statements charges, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District.
McLaughlin is expected to appear in Manhattan Federal Court Friday at 11 a.m., when U.S. District Court Judge Richard Sullivan will impose a sentence.
By pleading guilty, McLaughlin admitted to a litany of crimes that painted a picture both of greed and betrayal during his years as an influential Flushing Democrat and a powerful labor leader.
In federal court in Manhattan in March, he admitted to 21 separate criminal offenses spanning more than a decade, during which he stole $2.2 million from unions, contractors, his own political committee and a Little League in his Assembly district.
The former Flushing legislator pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and one count of making false statements on a loan application, according to the plea agreement.
He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison for the racketeering charge and another 20 years in prison for the false statements charge, but will most likely be sentenced under federal guidelines to the recommended eight to 10 years.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at Sstirling@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, ext. 138.
