Former Cuomo Aide, SUNY Poly President Face Federal Corruption and Fraud Charges

SOUTH SALEM, NY — Nine people have been charged with federal corruption and fraud offenses, including a former aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced Thursday the unsealing of an indictment accusing eight men, including Joseph Percoco, Cuomo’s former deputy secretary, and Alain Kaloyeros, the president of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, of overlapping schemes involving bribery, corruption and fraud in the award of hundreds of millions of dollars in state contract and other official state actions.

Percoco, a South Salem resident, is charged with soliciting and accepting more than $315,000 in bribes, Bharara said, in return for taking official state action that benefited an energy company and a Syracuse-based real estate developer.

Also unsealed Thursday was a guilty plea by the ninth defendant—Todd Howe—who participated in the corruption schemes and was hired as a consultant by Kaloyeros. He is cooperating with the government.

Bharara said Kaloyeros and Howe rigged bids on lucrative state-funded contracts.

“Today’s charges shine a light on yet another sordid side of the show-me-the-money culture that has so plagued Albany,” Bharara said.

Among the charges Percoco faces are conspiracy to commit extortion under the color of official right and solicitation of bribes and gratuities.

Kaloyeros is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner said she applauds Bharara for his ongoing commitment to rooting out corruption, but said the problem won't be solved with another indictment.

"It's up to all New Yorkers to demand that our elected officials commit to changing the culture of corruption that has come to define Albany," she said. "It's time for the governor and Legislature to get serious and pass real ethics reform."

For the complete list of defendants and charges, go here.

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