The architect of Gov. Cuomo’s “Buffalo Billion” program to revitalize upstate was sentenced to 3-and-a-half years in prison Tuesday by a judge who blasted him for putting a desire to cozy up to Cuomo ahead of his duty to taxpayers.
Judge Valerie Caproni said Alain Kaloyeros, the former head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, thought he was “above the rules” when he helped two upstate construction companies and Cuomo contributors rig bids for multi-million dollar development projects.
“He let his desire to win brownie points in the executive chamber overcome the normal, well-thought out processes that treated all developers fairly — whether they were giving money to Cuomo campaign coffers or not,” the judge said.
Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman also used the sentencing as an opportunity to blast Albany, which has been the subject of numerous corruption convictions in recent months, including the bribery conviction of Cuomo’s former top aide Joe Percoco.
“Public corruption — especially at such a disconcertingly high level in Albany — contributes to the frustration and eroding faith of the people of New York in the integrity of their government,” Berman said in a statement.
“We will continue to do everything within our power to ensure that funds intended for the greater good of New Yorkers will be used for just that — and not to line the pockets of influence-peddlers with high-level access.”
The feds showed at trial that the scheme centered around corrupt lobbyist Todd Howe, who helped Kaloyeros, 62, get on Cuomo’s good side and be tapped to help lead the “Buffalo Billion” project to bring jobs to Buffalo and Syracuse.
Howe then directed Kaloyeros to rig the bids to benefit two developers who had contributed to Cuomo — and who were also Howe’s clients.
Cuomo has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Howe, who testified at Percoco’s bribery trial, is slated to be sentenced in January.
The judge said Kaloyeros deserved less than the 6 years given to Percoco because the nano scientist didn’t benefit financially from his scheme. But she said he deserved more time than the developers who were convicted with him at trial because as a public official, he had a greater responsibility to protect the public good.
Kaloyeros kept covering his face with his hands and dabbing his nose with a tissue during sentencing, especially when his lawyer Reed Weingarten spoke about his work bringing tech jobs to Albany.
He will remain free on bail pending appeal.
“While we are entirely respectful of the jury trial system, we firmly believe that Alain Kaloyeros is an innocent man,” his lawyer in statement.