Skip to main content

Accounting

Former NY State Senator pleads guilty to fraud conspiracy

Former New York State Senator Shirley Huntley has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York has announced that former New York State Senator Shirley Huntley has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Huntley served in the New York State Senate, representing the 10th District in Queens, from 2007 to 2012. During part of the time of the charged conspiracy, Huntley was a sitting State Senator.

The guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George Venizelos, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office.

Huntley was charged with running a Queens non-profit organization known as Parents Information Network, Inc. (PIN) that received public funds to help educate parents about the New York City public school system. From October 2005 through October 2008, Huntley embezzled approximately $87,700 from PIN, the charges stated.

It was also claimed that Huntley used the money for her own personal benefit and for the benefit of her family members and associates. During this time period, PIN received nearly all of its funding from the state.

In her plea agreement with prosecutors, Huntley agreed to make restitution of $87,700 to the New York State Department of Education for the funds she admitted embezzlnig. In addition, Huntley also agreed to make restitution of $1,000 in connection with an unrelated bribery scheme involving a cargo-handling business at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The guilty plea took place before U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein. When sentenced, Huntley faces up to five years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000, in addition to the restitution.

———-

Copyright 2013, States News Service.