SEMINERIO INDICTED

FBI agents arrested longtime Queens Assemblymember Anthony Seminerio after an investigation found that he allegedly made up a fake consulting company and used it to bilk more than $500,000 in bribes in exchange for actions he took as a New York State legislator.
The bombshell indictment, which was unsealed by U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia on Wednesday, September 10 - hours after Seminerio surrendered to FBI agents - carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“As a veteran lawmaker in Albany, he had the power and influence to promote or oppose legislation on behalf of his constituents, but rather than use that power to further the interest of the people who elected him, Assemblymember Seminerio put his office up for sale to those willing to pay the right price,” Garcia said.
The charges revealed that from April of 2000 through September of 2008, Seminerio, 73, set up a consulting firm, Marc Consulting, and received payments in return for actions he took as a legislator that would benefit those companies.
Seminerio, who has represented parts of western and southern Queens in the Assembly for 30 years, then would deposit the money from Marc Consultants into his own personal bank account.
“That faith is shattered when we learn the public official demands personal financial reward as a condition of and in recognition of the personal performance of official duties,” said Mark Mershon, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the FBI.
The majority of the $500,000 Seminerio received came from a New York City hospital, who Garcia said he could not identify, in exchange for taking legislative action that would benefit the hospital, including during the state budget negotiations, according to the charges.
During the investigation, the FBI dispatched an undercover agent as a potential client of Marc Consultants. The agent met with Seminerio and paid him $25,000 in exchange for Seminerio arranging meetings with other elected officials to discuss legislation. These meetings took place up in Albany, but so far, no other elected officials were identified by name or charged in this case. Seminerio was expected to be arraigned in court on Wednesday afternoon.
“There’s nothing I can say to you [at this time],” said his son, John Seminerio, when reached by cell phone. “We’ll see what happens.”
In a newsletter posted on his web site this summer, Seminerio said, “I remain dedicated to fighting for the 38th Assembly District, and that includes ensuring the best care for all children and families, senior citizens and veterans. I will do so without compromise; I welcome your input and concerns.”
Seminerio is charged with one count of honest services mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Seminerio is only the latest of a line of Queens politicians caught in a political and legal scandal. Former Queens Assemblymember Brian McLaughlin faces sentencing later this month that may land him in jail for eight to 10 years for stealing more than $2 million from people and organizations he worked with while serving in the Assembly.