Former N.Y. Senator Dean Skelos, son found guilty of corruption

NEW YORK, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Former New York state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam were found guilty Friday of federal corruption charges including bribery and extortion.

A jury found Senator Skelos, 67, used his political power to pressure a Manhattan developer and two other companies to provide Adam, 33, with about $300,000 in consulting work and other perks. Dean Skelos, a Long Island Republican, had been one of the most powerful men in the state government until his arrest in May. He has repeatedly insisted he is innocent of the charges.

"We are obviously very disappointed with the verdict," the senator's lawyer, G. Robert Gage Jr., said. "The next step is post-trial motions. We intend to pursue them vigorously."

The guilty verdict follows the Nov. 30 conviction of Skelos' former colleague, former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, in a different case.

The convictions are seen as a victory for Manhattan United States Attorney Preet Bharara, who prosecuted all three men. Because of the convictions, Skelos and Silver will be expelled from their elected positions.

"The swift convictions of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos beg an important question -- how many prosecutions will it take before Albany gives the people of New York the honest government they deserve?" Bharara said.