N.Y. State Senate leader Dean Skelos, son arrested

NEW YORK, May 4 (UPI) -- New York state Senate Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, were arrested Monday on federal corruption charges.

The state senator is accused of encouraging companies to do business with his son in exchange for showing them preferential treatment.

The men face charges of conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, extortion under color of official right, and solicitation of bribes and gratuity. The charges were filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

"Dean Skelos'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," said Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Investigators are targeting the Long Island Republican over his relationship with an Arizona contracting company that hired Adam Skelos. The company, AbTech Industries, was awarded a lucrative storm-water treatment contract despite not having submitted the lowest bid.

"I am innocent of the charges leveled against me. I am not saying I am just not guilty, I am saying that I am innocent. I fully expect to be exonerated by a public jury trial," Dean Skelos said in reaction to the charges.

Both men surrendered at the FBI's office in lower Manhattan Monday morning and were expected to appear in federal court later that day.