By Howard Koplowitz
State Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio (D-Richmond Hill) was indicted on a federal mail fraud charge last week for allegedly setting up a sham consulting company to take roughly $1 million in illegal payments from entities seeking his influence in Albany, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District in New York announced.
The 73-year-old assemblyman faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The indictment comes three months after federal prosecutors filed a criminal complaint on the same allegations that coincided with Seminerio’s arrest.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office said she could not say whether plans for a plea deal between the office and Seminerio fell through. Seminerio’s lawyer told a city tabloid that he was in discussions with prosecutors.
In the criminal complaint, prosecutors contended Seminerio took in about $500,000 in illegal payments from April 2000 to September 2008 through a business he set up called Marc Consulting, but the indictment alleged that the assemblyman actually received about $1 million in corrupt payments.
According to the indictment, Seminerio collecting the payments from “hospitals and related entities, a consulting firm associated with and educational institution, and a firm engaged in marketing supplemental insurance packages to public institutions.”
When the criminal complaint was filed in September, there was speculation that Jamaica Hospital was the unnamed institution referred to by prosecutors, but the hospital did not confirm or deny its connection to Seminerio.
Seminerio earns $79,500 annually as an assemblyman.
Under state law, legislators have to report any outside income. But the law only says that they have to report that income under a business and not the actual clients who they receive money from.
The indictment said Seminerio was able to use Marc Consulting to hide the stream of illegal payments and that he actually did little or no consulting through the company.
Seminerio ran unopposed in November to win his 16th term in Albany.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
