Six Weeks Later, Trial Winds Down for Former NY Politician

WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Published April 26, 2012 at 7:52 AM EDT

After nearly six weeks, the trial of former New York Senator Pedro Espada Jr. is winding down. WAMC's Dave Lucas reports...

Espada is standing trial in Brooklyn federal court. He's charged with looting around a half million dollars from the nonprofit Soundview Healthcare Network.

Espada founded the network in the 1970s. Prosecutors say he created a sham cleaning company that overcharged the not-for-profit so he could take money whenever he wanted.

Prosecutors say the former senator and his son, Pedro , used Soundview money as personal slush funds. Authorities say they bought everything from pony rides to new cars for their families.

Prosecutors were expected to finish summations Wednesday.

Dave Lucas, WAMC News.

Tags

Dave Lucas

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.

See stories by Dave Lucas