Could Lose Her Seat If Convicted
State Sen. Shirley Huntley surrendered to authorities on Monday, Aug. 27, and was indicted in Nassau County Court in Mineola on charges that she helped funnel thousands of dollars in state funding to family members through a non-profit organization.
According to a joint statement from State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, the indictment claims that the Queens lawmaker funneled taxpayer money to a nonprofit co-run by her aide, Patricia Savage, and her niece, Lynn Smith.
An investigation by the two offices’ Joint Task Force of Public Integrity found that Savage and Smith allegedly submitted phony documents on behalf of a firm called Parent Workshop, Inc. to the state to obtain $29,950 from a member item Huntley sponsored.
However, instead of using the money toward the services Parent Workshop was supposed to provide, the duo allegedly pocketed it; the indictment claims that no events were ever planned or carried out.
After learning of the probe into Parent Workshop, Huntley allegedly created a backdated letter with the help of David Gantt from a second nonprofit, the Southern Queens Park Association, designed to make it look like Parent Workshop had conducted workshops that in fact never took place.
Parent Workshop then allegedly submitted the letter to the office of the state Attorney General in response to a subpoena.
Huntley is charged with tampering with physical evidence and falsifying business records, both felones, as well as a misdemeanor charge of fifth-degree conspiracy. Each felony charge would carry a sentence of 1 1/3 to four years in prison. In addition, under state law, conviction would result in Huntley’s automatic removal from her office.
Savage and Smith were each charged with several felony counts of third-degree grand larceny; each count carries a maximum sentence of 2 1/3 to seven years in prison. Gantt was charged with four counts of tampering with physical evidence, four counts of falsifying business records and one count of fifth-degree conspiracy.
“Falsifying documents, conspiracy and deliberately tampering with an open investigation are serious crimes,” Schneiderman said. “The individuals who schemed to profit at the taxpayers’ expense and cover it up will be held accountable.”
“Public service is a privilege and a trust that should never be violated,” DiNapoli added.
City Council Member James Sanders, who is running for Huntley’s 10th Senate District seat, released a statement claiming that “in America a person is innocent until proven guilty. However, a culture of corruption has pervaded our state government in Albany. Never before has it been as important to elect people of good character to office to ensure that the voice of the people is heard in the chambers of our state legislature.”
The revised Tenth District represents portions of Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven, Springfield Gardens and the Rockaways. In addition to Sanders, Huntley is being challenged by real estate professional Gian A. Jones of Far Rockaway.
Public Integrity Bureau Deputy Chief Stacy Aronowitz and Chief William E. Schaeffer supervised the investigation under the auspices of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Nancy Hoppock. The Investigations Unit and the Bureau of State Expenditures of the Comptroller’s office conducted the probe.
The case is being prosecuted by Public Integrity Bureau Senior Counsel Emily Bradford, Public Integrity Bureau Assistant Attorney General Jerrold Steigman and Criminal Prosecutions Bureau Assistant Attorney General Thomas Schellhammer.
It was noted that the indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
