POLITICIAN IS INDICTED FOR FRAUD

POLITICIAN IS INDICTED FOR FRAUD

Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio was indicted by a grand jury last Wednesday, Dec. 10 after being charged in September for allegedly soliciting and accepting illegal payments from clients doing business with the state.

Federal prosecutors said the 73- year-old Ozone Park resident—who represents the 38th Assembly District that covers parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven— allegedly received $1 million unlawfully through his consulting firm, Marc Consultants.

Despite claiming to provide advice to his clients through his purported business, law enforcement sources stated, the legislator allegedly granted his clients exclusive access to state government officials and, in doing so, denied the general public of services he was elected to provide.

The indictment was announced last Wednesday by Lev L. Dassin, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in New York. Seminerio was charged with one count of honest services mail fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Seminerio has been a member of the State Assembly since 1978, when he was elected to represent southwestern Queens in the 31st Assembly District. In 1992, he was elected to the 38th District after it was reapportioned to include parts of Ridgewood and Glendale.

Running on the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Independence lines, he was re-elected unopposed in the November general election.

The legislator allegedly perpetrated the scheme between April 2000 and September 2008, according to federal prosecutors. Reportedly, various businesses— including health care providers, educational consultants and an insurance marketing firm—paid Seminerio through his consulting firm and later received favorable treatment in government matters.

According to the criminal complaint, one of the consulting firms— identified by the federal government as "a hospital in New York City"—made payments exceeding $300,000 to Marc Consultants.

In conversations later intercepted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it was noted, Seminerio allegedly took action on their behalf by reaching out to other legislators and a state Health Department official regarding the hospital's attempt to purchase a medical facility.

Federal prosecutors stated that in September 2007, Seminerio allegedly met with an individual who later became a cooperating witness in the case. In recorded conversations, the legislator allegedly admitted to performing favors on behalf of the health care industry which netted him thousands of dollars in profit through his consulting business.

Shortly after the conversation took place, it was noted in the complaint, the assemblyman arranged for a meeting between a prospective client—later identified as an undercover federal agent—and state officials in November 2007.

The agent reportedly informed Seminerio of his intention of privatizing components of the state's probation system and sought the legislator's help in obtaining brownfield redevelopment projects and related tax credits.

In exchange for $25,000 in payments made to the firm, prosecutors said, Seminerio allegedly coordinated a meeting with the purported client and the chairs of Assembly and State Senate committees regarding the aforementioned proposals.

It was noted that all proceeds were deposited into Marc Consultants' bank account, which was listed to the assemblyman's home address. Seminerio and his wife reportedly were the only individuals with signature access to the account.

As legislator, Seminerio earns an annual salary of $79,500 and serves on the Assembly committees on Banks, Cities, Governmental Employees, Racing and Wagering and Rules.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Stein and William Harrington of the U.S. Attorney's Office's Public Corruption Unit. District Court Judge John G. Koeltl is presiding over the matter.

It was noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and Seminerio is presumed innocent until proven guilty.