State Sen. Shirley Huntley announced today that she would surrender to police, months after damning reports surfaced that her ties to nonprofits cost taxpayers more than $400,000.
Huntley, a Democrat who represents Jamaica, Laurelton and South Ozone Park in Queens, told reporters in front of her home today that she would be indicted and arrested Monday.
“She’s aware the noose is tightening,” said a source familiar with the investigation.
The announcement comes more than a year after The Post reported how Huntley tried to funnel $155,000 to her Parent Workshop non-profit. An investigation by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman followed, and he announced indictments of four schemers in December.
Those indictments led to Huntley allies cooperating with the state investigators, a source with knowledge of the investigation said.
The indictments charged Parent Workshop President Patricia D. Savage, who worked as a Huntley’s senate aide, as well as Lynn H. Smith, the nonprofit’s treasurer, with being involved in a scheme to steal taxpayer money. David R. Gantt, a consultant, and Roger N. Scotland, president of the Southern Queens Park Association, were also charged with falsifying records.
On Friday night, a Huntley spokesperson contacted news outlets with a cryptic invitation to a press conference today at 11 a.m. sharp.
Huntley’s lawyer, Sally J.M. Butler, spoke for most of the presser in a bizarre scene framed by Huntley’s Jamaica home.
Afterwards, a family member of Huntley’s became hostile with reporters and photographers, despite the fact that they had been invited.
A woman answering Hunley’s phone told reporters that the senator was in meetings and sleeping, refusing to put her on the phone.
Huntley founded The Parent Workshop in 2006, eight months before being elected. Once in office, she authorized a $30,000 grant and tried to send another $125,000 a year later.
The $30,000 member item went to two consultants. One was Sherman Russell, 71, who received $15,000 in 2008 and 2009 from the nonprofit, purportedly to conduct workshops for parents and students on navigating the school system, records show.
The other consultant, David Gantt — who also earned $15,000 — was purportedly paid for conducting workshops for parents and making “outreach visits” to schools and community groups, according to documents submitted by The Parent Workshop to the state for payment.
The attorney general’s office was tight-lipped, but offered the promise of more to come.
“Although our office cannot comment on an ongoing matter, we are aware of the comments made by Senator Huntley earlier today,” Attorney General spokesman James Freedland said. “The appropriate forum in which to respond to the Senator is a court of law, where the Attorney General will prove all facts according to the rules of evidence. Those facts will speak for themselves.”
Additional reporting by Aaron Feis