Former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son were indicted on six corruption counts, federal authorities in Manhattan announced Thursday, as court papers revealed a new allegation that the father helped the son cash in on his once-powerful position.
“Dean Skelos attempted to secure and did secure hundreds of thousands of dollars for Adam Skelos, including . . . over $100,000 in payments and health benefits from a medical-malpractice insurer who provided Adam Skelos with a no-show job while actively lobbying Dean Skelos on legislative matters,” reads the 22-page indictment, which doesn’t name the insurer.
The indictment also divulged for the first time that the Long Island Republican allegedly threatened to punish real-estate companies that didn’t pump cash into his war chest.
“Dean Skelos stated to [a cooperating witness] and others that he would take detrimental action against real-estate developers who did not support him by, among other things, making contributions to his campaign fund,” states the Manhattan federal court indictment.
The medical-insurer payout brings the amount Adam Skelos cleared on the alleged scheme to about $320,000, according to court papers. That includes some $200,000 from AbTech Industries in Arizona and $20,000 from the Glenwood Management realty firm in Manhattan.
The indictment also sought to force Adam Skelos to forfeit his Rockville Centre, LI, home and about $300,000 he has deposited in two bank accounts.
The father and son were indicted on crimes including extortion, wire fraud and solicitation of bribes.
“The defendants engaged in a corrupt scheme to monetize Dean Skelos’ official position to obtain for Adam Skelos hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, gratuities and extortion payments from campaign donors to Dean Skelos and/or companies with business before the state,” the indictment reads.
Dean and Adam Skelos were arrested earlier this month, and the elder Skelos stepped down as majority leader exactly one week later. He maintains his Senate seat.
Defense attorneys for Dean and Adam Skelos did not return calls for comment.