A crooked pal of former police commissioner Bernie Kerik dodged the big house today, and breathed a huge sigh of relief after predicting “I’m going away.”
Peter DiTommaso, convicted of perjury in December, had been on the hook for up to five years behind bars — but got just five years probation, 1,500 hours community service in the Bronx and a $10,000 fine.
The wrist slap touched off wild, tearful celebrations by DiTommaso’s loved ones, who ecstatically hugged each in Bronx Supreme Court.
“This whole process has been very humbling for me,” DiTommaso said outside court.
“I never imaged being in this situation. It’s been very tough on me. I have lived my life respectfully and gracefully and my parents raised me to be law-abiding.”
DiTommaso was convicted of lying about the free renovations his construction company did at the former police commissioner’s Riverdale home. At this time, DiTommaso was seeking city contracts so he shouldn’t have been doing free work for the Big Apple’s top cop.
Prosecutor Stuart Levy had asked for one to three years behind bars.
He said the perjury charge “strikes at the heart of the integrity of our criminal justice system” and that DiTommaso engaged in a “series of attempts to undermine the truth seeking process.”
The defendant’s brother Frank DiTommaso, 51, was found not guilty by the same jury.
Peter DiTommaso benefitted from 200 letters written on his behalf, his history of charitable efforts for troubled youth and his brother’s acquittal.
“What is an appropriate sentence?” said Judge John Carter “I don’t believe in this instance, sitting in a prison cell is what’s called for.”
Before sentencing, Peter DiTomaso was reading his probation report and could be heard whispering, “I’m going away.”
After getting the favorable sentence, DiTommaso said the judge will be pleased with his community service.
“I’ll make you and the court very proud because I’ll work very hard,” he said.
DiTommaso’s lawyer Michael Marianaccio said he was braced for his client to go to prison.
“I think it was a fair sentence under the circumstance. I prepared as if the judge was inclined to give him some time [behind bars],” he said. “You prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I think the judge struck a good balance.”
Back in 2009, Kerik pleaded guilty to two counts of tax fraud, one count of making a false statement on a loan application and five counts of making false statements to feds.
Kerik lied to White House officials who were vetting him after President Bush nominated him for the top spot at Homeland Security. The bad former cop is scheduled to be released later this year.
Additional reporting by David K. Li