by juan soto
State Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-Jamaica) was arrested Wednesday and charged with using campaign funds for his own personal benefit and falsely collecting travel reimbursements from the state, according to federal and state authorities.
The investigation was headed by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District Richard Hartunian.
Scarborough, first elected to office in 1994, was indicted on state charges for allegedly using more than $40,000 of his campaign funds for his personal affairs.
He also faces federal charges for allegedly receiving more than $40,000 in travel and other expenses for trips that had not occurred, Schneiderman said at a news conference in Manhattan.
Scarborough faces up to 37 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
The attorney general contended the southeast Queens lawmaker “took money donated by members of the public to his campaign for re-election and instead put it into an account for his personal use.”
The investigation dubbed ”Operation Integrity,”according to Schneirderman, claimed that Scarborough made withdrawals and transfers from his campaign committee account, “Friends of Bill Scarborough,” diverting more than $38,000 between January 2007 and March 2014 for his personal use.
According to the 23-count state indictment and court papers, the Jamaica lawmaker, also deposited five checks payable to “Friends of Bill Scarborough” totaling $3,450 into his personal bank account.
“When people donate money for political campaigns, they trust the money is going to be used for lawful purposes, and not go into politicians’ pockets,” Schneiderman said.
DiNapli said, “It is a sad day when we have to have an announcement like this one. Elected officials cannot use taxpayers money and campaign funds as their personal piggy banks.”
The attorney general added, “We are trying to change a culture,” said Schneiderman.
In March, Scarborough said investigators raided his home and offices in an investigation of his daily expense claims. He pointed out at the time that a misunderstanding about the Assembly voucher system led to the investigation.
In the 11-count federal indictment, Scarborough is accused of fraudulently claiming “per-diem” travel-related expenses between 2009 and 2012. He is charged with submitting 174 false reimbursements vouchers for per-diem mileage and tolls expenses of more than $40,000, prosecutors said.
Scarborough’s arrest is the latest in a series of corruption cases involving legislators from southeast Queens.
Last year state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Hollis) was arrested on bribery charges. He faces a federal retrial in January for allegedly trying to bribe his way onto the Republican line in the 2013 mayoral race.
Smith lost his seat the September Democratic primary to former city Councilman Leory Comrie.
Also in 2013, former state Sen. Shirley Huntley, who represented Jamaica, was sentenced to 366 days in prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud in an effort to cover up a scheme she used to pocket more than $87,000 from taxpayers.
Asked at the news conference if his office was putting an emphasis on southeast Queens politicians, Schneiderman said no.
“We have bought dozens and dozens of cases,” the attorney general said. “If you asked the people we have indicted in Niagara County or in Elmira or any other part of the state, I don’t think they’ll tell you that we are concentrating in Queens.”
“We have pursued people, town clerks and town supervisors all over the state of New York,” Schneiderman said.
Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail at jsoto@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
