Meeks Cronies Probed in Aqueduct Bid Rigging Scheme
Submitted by Ken Boehm on Tue, 01/08/2013 - National Legal and Policy Center
The New York Post reports today that federal prosecutors are investigating close associates of Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) as part of probe into a possible casino bid-rigging scheme at Aqueduct Racetrack. According to the Post:
Investigators are asking questions about the roles of then-Senate Democratic leaders John Sampson and Malcolm Smith and others who were accused of helping the Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) land a multibillion-dollar casino contract three years ago, sources said.
The AEG bid became controversial after NLPC exposed several individuals involved with the bid, including Malcolm Smith, as also being involved with a charity called New Direction Local Development Corporation. New Direction appeared to operate as a slush fund for Meeks and his friends. It also raised money for Hurricane Katrina victims who never received the aid.
In 2010, then-New York Governor David Paterson granted a lucrative gambling franchise to AEG, touching off a firestorm against the backdrop of the New Direction headlines. Fuel was added to the fire when Paterson met with former Rep. Floyd Flake, a purported AEG "investor," to discuss his support for Paterson's re-election campaign. According to the Post:
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- By JOSH MARGOLIN and CARL CAMPANILE -NY Post
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The feds are grilling state Senate Democratic insiders as part of an explosive probe into an alleged Aqueduct casino bid-rigging scandal, The Post has learned.Investigators are asking questions about the roles of then-Senate Democratic leaders John Sampson and Malcolm Smith and others who were accused of helping the Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) land a multibillion-dollar casino contract three years ago, sources said.The state ultimately rescinded the contract in 2010 amid a state inspector general’s probe into claims of favoritism. The IG’s office referred its scathing findings to federal authorities for potential prosecution.The state subsequently selected Genting, an international gambling firm, to operate the Aqueduct slots casino.It’s the second federal probe targeting Sampson. The Post last week reported that the former Senate minority leader is linked to a broader federal investigation into Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks and a convicted real estate developer, Edul Ahmad.Smith, who has talked about running for mayor on the Republican line, also is being targeted as part of the Meeks inquiry, a law-enforcement official said.FBI agents recently interviewed witnesses about the Aqueduct case who were captured on wiretaps talking to other subjects convicted on corruption charges — including ex-state Sens. Carl Kruger and Hiram Monserrate and lobbyist Richard Lipsky.==========================================================
Related:
==========================================================The AEGATE Scandal has lots of moving parts for the "FEDS" to investigate and when you start connecting the "DOTS" of the "Other" Scandals the results will rock the foundations of New York Politics and Government.Stay TunedBefore there was the "Oracle of Delphi" there was Count Vampire J. MachiavelliVJ MachiavelliPower to the People Who VOTE
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