Disbarred For Extortion

A former New York lawmaker has been disbarred by the New York Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department.

We conclude that the respondent's convictions of extortion under color of official right constitute felonies within the meaning of Judiciary Law § 90(4)(e) (see Matter of Margiotta, 60 NY2d 147). As such, upon his conviction of that crime, the respondent was automatically disbarred and ceased to be an attorney pursuant to Judiciary Law § 90(4)(a).

USA Today had a story on the criminal case

Former New York Senate majority leader Dean Skelos and his son were sentenced to years in prison and hundreds of thousands in forfeitures Thursday for their convictions on federal corruption charges that further documented entrenched dysfunction in the state's political culture.

U.S. District Court Judge Kimba Wood ordered Skelos, 68, a Republican from suburban Long Island, to spend 5 years behind bars, pay $500,000 in fines and more than $300,000 in forfeitures for using his post to pressure companies with interests before the state government to give financial aid to his 33-year-old son.

Adam Skelos, who got a no-show job, $300,000 in consulting work and a $20,000 direct payment at his father's command, drew a 6-year, 6-month prison term and was ordered to pay forfeitures jointly with his father for his conviction in the criminal scheme.

"You sent a message that you, one of the three most powerful officials in New York state, were in some measure corrupt, and you used your official position for personal gain," Wood lectured the disgraced lawmaker. All New Yorkers were victimized by the crimes of bribery, extortion and conspiracy she said.

(Mike Frisch)