Eavesdropping investigators busted two Manhattan women who tried to bribe liquor authority officials to help speed up a booze license approval, officials said.
Annie Guerrero, a restaurant owner, and Maria Elena Nunez, a liquor license fixer have been indicted on felony bribery charges, said Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau.
Guerrero, the owner of El Nido Del Aguila, in Inwood, and Nunez, the owner of an expediting company that represents businesses applying for liquor licenses, agreed to grease an SLA official with 5,000, to sidestep a full SLA review, a court ordered eavesdrop revealed.
But Nunez bailed out of the agreement, and instead pocketed the cash when she learned that going to the board was inevitable. She is additionally charged with of attempted grand larceny, a felony.
“This goes to show you, be careful who you pick to bribe someone with,” Morgenthau said. “They might pocket the money.”
The indictment came after a joint, long-term investigation between the DA’s office and the State Inspector General’s office.
Meanwhile, a former SLA deputy commissioner and his nephew pleaded guilty to violating the public officers law for flouting a waiting-period regulation.
With the help of his nephew, Bruno Gioffre, Jr., 37, a lawyer, Fred Gioffre, 64, a former deputy commissioner of licensing, established a consulting company, and advised liquor license applicants who had applied to the SLA..
But state law forbids former employees from dealing with the agency within two years of leaving.
“We have these rules so these agencies don’t become a revolving door,” Morgenthau said, in his office.
As part of the plea deal, both men will not appear before the SLA.