Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 31

Weather: Clear and sunny today in the low 80s. It could get a little overcast later this afternoon, but there's no real rain in the forecast until this weekend.

We missed yesterday's news roundup--let's just blame the hurricane--but we're back to our regularly scheduled blogging. Here are some Bronx news headlines from yesterday and this morning.

Crotona Park resident Jose Sierra, 68, is among the 40 or so victims who died during this weekend's storm. A Puerto Rican native and father of 13, Sierra was an avid fisherman who went out to check on his boat at a City Island marina on Sunday morning. His body was found that afternoon in the waters nearby.

Former State Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr., and his son are defending themselves against charges of fraud and money laundering by blaming their accountants. The Espadas' defense lawyer, the Daily News reports, is claiming the men assumed their use of taxpayer funds from the Soundview Health Clinics they controlled--to pay for things like sushi restaurant tabs and birthday party pony rides--were legal because the expenses were approved by an accounting firm.

Espada Pleads Not Guilty, Predicts 'Complete Vindication'

Pedro Espada, pictured above with his wife, leaving a
federal courthouse in Brooklyn yesterday (photo by J. Evelly)

Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr.. and his son, Pedro G. Espada, were arraigned in a Brooklyn federal court yesterday  on criminal charges. Both men surrendered their passports and pleaded not guilty before the crowded courtroom, where their respective wives each posted $750,000 in bail for their release.

Judge Steven Gold said the Espadas are charged with "extremely serious crimes," that would put them in jail for "a very long time," if convicted.

Just how long of a time that might be is yet to be seen--the United States Attorney's Office said that, if convicted, the Espadas would face a maximum of 55 years, though experts predict an actual sentence would be much less.

Both men face five counts of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy for allegedly looting their network of taxpayer-funded nonprofit health care clinics, money they used to buy lavish gifts and meals for themselves and their families. You can read more details on their indictment here.

For Bronx residents in the 33rd State Senate District, the Espada debacle has a serious tinge of déjà vu--Espada's predecessor, Efrain Gonzalez, was indicted on very similar charges in 2006. At the time, Gonzalez could have faced a maximum of 30 years in prison. He was sentenced to seven years this June.

Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 16

Patients at Espada's Soundview Health Clinics told the Post that they wouldn't mind seeing the network's CEO behind bars. "He belongs in jail," said 70-year-old Rosalind Rahamon. Espada and his son pleaded not guilty yesterday at a federal court in Brooklyn; we'll have more on that in a bit.

A spokeswoman from the Health Department told WNYC that the agency supports Espada's removal from his CEO position at Soundview.

Outgoing Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who first brought civil charges against Espada this spring, said of the senator's indictment: "I couldn't leave on a better note."

Mets player Carlos Beltran handed out food to Bronx residents with anti-hunger group City Harvest.

The body of a 38-year-old Bronx man was discovered in a wooded area of Clifton, N.J. yesterday.

Bronx resident George Castro, 48, is accused of stealing $5.7 million from Columbia University. He allegedly diverted funds from the prestigious school's accounts after accessing private financial information, and had more than $200,000 in cash on him when he was arrested by police last month.

Loyal customers at a Carvel store in Wakefield won't let this week's freezing temperatures stop them from enjoying an ice cream cone.

The Mayor says legislators taking advantage of a loophole that lets them collect pension checks while still in office are pulling the "ultimate scam." Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera is among the accused.

Four Loko, the controversial booze-and-caffeine beverage that's supposedly been banned from stores, is still available for purchase online, according to Sen. Jeff Klein's office.

Incoming Schools Chancellor Cathie Black, responding to critics that she's out of touch with inner-city students: "I've been to the South Bronx, and that's about as realistic as you can get." Witty commentary at the source.

Today's issue of amNY profiles Concourse Village, and the neighborhood art scene there.

A Bronx-based nonprofit health group is looking update the borough's medical care. Bronx Regional Health Information Organization is partnering with the borough's hospitals to create electronic patients' records--a staple of President Obama's reform plan.

Plans to officially form a Business Improvement District for Westchester Square  are coming together.

Bronx News Roundup, Dec. 15

Every news outlet under the sun has coverage of Pedro Espada, Jr.'s indictment, as the now-former Senate Majority Leader and his son were charged yesterday with six counts of embezzlement and conspiracy. Here's what we posted last night.

Here's the Times' take, which reminds readers of how once upon a time, in 2006, Espada had accused his then-rival Ruben Diaz, Sr., of more or less the same things he's now being indicted for.

The Daily News' Celeste Katz includes a response from the Espada camp: "Today is a sad day for Soundview and a sad day for the Espada family. Senator Espada and his son deny any wrongful doing and we intend to fight the charges in court."

Both men are schedule to appear at a federal court in Brooklyn this afternoon. We'll have more on that later.

In other news:

Employees from the Bronx Psychiatric Center rallied yesterday against proposed layoffs at the facility, which they say will only make things less safe for patients and workers.

One of the city's largest chapters of the carpenters union, which represented workers in the Bronx and part of Manhattan, was officially shut down yesterday after a slew of corruption scandals.

A Bronx man was sentenced to five years in prison for selling cocaine in upstate Watertown, NY.

New Census data shows that more New York City residents are getting college degrees than ever before. The number of graduates in the Bronx increased by 2.9 percent since 2000.

Terrible conditions at an unemployment office in Mott Haven--including floods, rats and a bed bug infestation--make the spot even more depressing for the jobless who have to wait there.

HPD is still trying to get LNR Property Corp., the servicer to the dilapidated Milbank buildings, to cough up the $2.5 million in repairs that a court ordered the group to pay in September.

The Post takes a look at what our lawmakers in Washington are spending on their pet projects--aka "pork" spending--this year. Bronx Congressman Jose E. Serrano scored $500,000 for transportation improvements at the Bronx Zoo.

On the local level, a number of state lawmakers, including Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera, have found a loophole that allows them to collect pension checks while still in office.

The man accused of shooting an off-duty Bronx narcotics detective over the weekend was released on $5,000 bail.

Police will start using hidden cameras to videotape suspects in precincts in the Bronx and Brooklyn, stating next year.

Pedro Espada, and Son, Indicted on Federal Charges

(File photo by Jeanmarie Evelly)

Controversial State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., was indicted today by a Brooklyn grand jury on embezzlement and conspiracy charges, along with his son, Pedro Gautier Espada, according to a statement by the United States Attorney's Office.

Both men are charged with five counts of embezzlement--to the alleged tune of more than $500,000--and one count of conspiracy. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment for each count of embezzlement and five years for the conspiracy count, or 55 years behind bars.

A 17-page indictment from U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch details the ways in which Espada and his son allegedly used their nonprofit healthcare network Soundview, which receives $1 million a year in federal funding, to the financial benefit of themselves and their family and friends--accusations first made by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in a civil lawsuit this spring.

Espada allegedly used Soundview's corporate credit card to pay for things like $100,000 in meals and tickets to Broadway shows, and set up a for-profit janitorial company with his son, to which they diverted funds from the health clinics to use for their own personal and political expenses.

Their purchases, according to the statement, include a petting zoo and pony rides at a family member's birthday party, an attempted down payment for a Bentley automobile and the rent for Espada's campaign headquarters, among others.

“The indictment alleges that funds that could and should have been applied to purchase medical equipment and enhance health care services for an historically under-served population were diverted by the defendants for their personal use and to benefit friends and family members,” Lynch said.

The Senate Majority Leader has been unusually quiet since his primary loss to political newcomer Gustavo Rivera in September, and failed to appear at two legislative sessions in Albany last month.

But today, Espada released a puzzling and extensive 34-page report of what he considers to be his "achievements," during his two years in office in the 33rd Senate District.

In the document, Espada claims responsibility for things like enacting term limits for legislative leaders, sparing free student MetroCards from MTA cuts, and leading "a sweeping and uncompromising ethics reform agenda," in the State Senate.

Both Espada and his son are expected to appear before a federal judge in Brooklyn tomorrow afternoon.