One more corrupt New York pol has a confirmed reservation at a federal lockup.
Ex-City Councilman Larry Seabrook (D-Bronx) was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison and ordered to pay $619,715 in restitution. He’s to report March 8.
Frankly, he should consider himself lucky.
Last summer, the former powerbroker was found guilty of nine corruption counts; over a seven-year period, he used several nonprofit organizations under his control to funnel $2 million in taxpayer funds to his mistress and several relatives.
US Attorney Preet Bharara asked for a 7-plus-year sentence, but Judge Deborah Batts opted to take into account Seabrook’s public service (as opposed to the private graft?) in imposing the lesser sentence.
Either way, one wonders how much his fate ultimately changes things.
After all, he joins an All-Star squad of recently convicted downstate miscreants that includes ex-state Sens. Pedro Espada, Jr., Carl Kruger and Hiram Monserrate, plus Seabrook’s fellow ex-Councilman Miguel Martinez — to name a few.
With the notable exception of Kruger — guilty of outright bribery — all in some way were caught using nonprofits as their personal piggybanks.
“Reforms” supposedly will put an end to such chicanery. Be skeptical.