After years trying to dodge charges that he looted more than $500,000 from the Bronx nonprofit he founded, ex-state Sen. Pedro Espada yesterday finally said, “Guilty, your honor.”
In a deal with Brooklyn federal prosecutors, the disgraced pol entered the plea to felony tax-fraud charges during a 12:30 p.m. hearing in Brooklyn federal court. His son, Pedro Gautier, also pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme.
After the hearing, the ex-senator told reporters, “I’m at peace.
“We have accepted responsibility and we are moving on with our lives.”
In May, Espada was found guilty of four charges related to embezzling from Soundview Healthcare, but the jury also deadlocked on four other charges.
Rather than retry him on the deadlocked charges and on additional tax charges related to the embezzlement, the feds agreed to a plea deal.
Under the deal, Espada faces up to seven years, and his son up to two years.
The plea is the first time Espada has accepted responsibility for looting Soundview. After the hearing, Gov. Cuomo blasted the sleazy Bronx pol.
“Mr. Espada’s reaction was to lash out again and again and to falsely disparage and accuse my office of engaging in a politically-motivated witch hunt,” said Gov. Cuomo, who opened the case against Espada as attorney general three years ago. “Today, I give Mr. Espada the last word — when he says, ‘Guilty.’ ”