By Jill Colvin 5/06 1:16pm

Another One Bites The Dust

Senator Sampson's alleged scheme. (Photo: Jill Colvin)

U.S. Attorney Slams John Sampson’s ‘Extreme Examples of Political Hubris’

State Sen. John Sampson will be arraigned Monday afternoon in federal court for his alleged involvement in a brazen embezzlement scheme, involving an elaborate cover-up and an attempt to use stolen cash to fund his campaign for Brooklyn District Attorney, investigators revealed Monday.

According to prosecutors and an indictment unsealed this morning in federal court, Mr. Sampson abused his position as an attorney supervising foreclosed properties for years and allegedly embezzled approximately $440,000 between 1998 and 2008 from escrow accounts he was charged with watching over. He then tried to use some of that money, they charged, to fund his own campaign to become Brooklyn’s top prosecutor. Further, Mr. Sampson allegedly engaged in an extensive scheme to try to hide the his illegal conduct, threatening witnesses and reaching into the U.S. Attorney’s Office to try to tamper with evidence. Read More

By Colin Campbell 5/08/12 5:04pm

brooklyn's florida

David Storobin on Election Day, March 20th. (Photo: Hunter Walker)

Court Rules in David Storobin’s Favor, Orders Contested Ballots to Be Counted

One of the biggest question marks hanging over an insanely close March 20th special election to the State Senate in southeastern Brooklyn was 100+ absentee ballots the Democratic candidate, Lew Fidler, alleged to have been collected fraudulently. Today, however, the judge overseeing the case ruled in favor of the Republican candidate David Storobin, who very well may now enter the automatic hand recount with a slight lead rather than the 87 vote deficit he ended last week with.

“However, based on the testimony of these witnesses, it cannot be said that [Storobin's campaign staffer] Ms. Pometko engaged in any fraudulent conduct,” the judge said in his ruling. “There was no evidence that she coerced or induced any of the witnesses to falsely apply for an absentee ballot. Nor was there evidence presented that Ms. Pometko made any false representations or threats to these voters in her efforts to procure an absentee ballot on their behalf.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 12/07/11 9:07am

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Morning Read: An Extraordinary Day In Albany

Governor Cuomo called legislators into Extraordinary Session to vote on the tax and jobs plan announced yesterday.

The tax plan will save families an average of $300-$400 a year.

Albany power broker Fred Dicker called Governor Cuomo’s political maneuvering on the tax plan a “dazzling display of political jujitsu.”

Governor Cuomo’s budget deal includes an agreement to pass a constitutional amendment legalizing non-Indian casinos.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/27/11 9:01am

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Morning Read: Mayoral Rap Sheets, Joe Lhota’s Wild Ride, Cuomo Gets Creative on Occupy Albany, Smoky Smugglers

Prospective 2013 Mayoral candidates Chris Quinn and Bill de Blasio would really like you to know that they’ve been arrested multiple times–for civil disobedience.

New MTA boss, Joe Lhota, had a rough time at a board meeting yesterday where he was confronted with angry employees and crazed subway riders.

Governor Cuomo made up a new curfew law to bust Occupy Albany protesters.

Cigarette smuggling is running rampant in New York.  Read More