Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Son Charged With Corruption

State Sen. Dean Skelos, R-Rockville Centre, and his son, Adam, have reportedly surrendered to investigators amid accusations of federal corruption.

The State Senate majority leader was taken into custody at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York headquarters on Monday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

The father and son face a total of six charges, including two counts of solicitation of bribes, three counts of extortion, and one count of conspiracy,

The federal investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York is probing business dealings involving Adam Skelos, 32, and whether his father, 67, aided him in any way.

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“Dean Skelos unlawfully used his power and influence as Senate Majority Leader, repeatedly, to illegally enrich his son, Adam, and indirectly, himself,” said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

The charges, according to Bharara, stem from a criminal complaint that further alleges the senator’s “support for certain infrastructure projects and legislation was often based, not on what was good for his constituents or good for New York, but rather on what was good for his son’s bank account.”

The case includes a deal between Nassau County and AbTech Industries, an Arizona-based company for which Adam Skelos was hired as a consultant, according to The New York Times. AbTech was reportedly awarded a storm-water treatment contract in Nassau County despite it not being the lowest bidder for the project.

Officials are determining whether the Long Island senator exerted any influence over the hiring of his son by AbTech. If true, the act would constitute a conflict of interest and could be in violation of federal corruption regulations.

In April, federal investigators were also looking into Adam Skelos’ dealings with American Land Services, who apparently gave him a $20,000 signing bonus despite never working for them, according to the report.

Sen. Skelos has not provided any update on the status of his position in the senate.

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