Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. — accused of living large off the money from his Bronx health-care empire — could face criminal charges for lying on state and federal applications to get more cash for the clinics, The Post has learned.
Sources say Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office is looking at mail-fraud and conspiracy charges that could land the Bronx Democrat in prison for at least 10 years on each count.
The charges relate to declarations made on state and federal forms and tax returns for the Comprehensive Community Development Corp., which runs clinics under the name Soundview HealthCare Network. The embattled Espada is CEO of the nonprofit.
The charges could include:
* Lying on a state contract form by claiming Soundview’s taxes were paid when it had actually failed to pay more than $750,000 to the state and federal governments.
* Answering “no” on a federal grant application to a question about outstanding federal debt when it owed at least $700,000 in federal payroll taxes.
* Falsely claiming to the IRS that Espada’s 2007 salary was zero when it really topped $450,000.
Espada and top officials at Soundview are already facing civil charges brought by Cuomo in April in a suit that accuses the senator of looting his nonprofit of more than $14 million.
The criminal charges could come this summer, The Post has learned.
Espada’s misstatements about Soundview’s tax situation were made on a state “vendor responsibility questionnaire” he signed in March 2009.
The form was tied to a $3 million grant Soundview was seeking from the state Department of Health to move a clinic to bigger quarters and participate in the state’s Women Infants and Children nutrition program.
The grant is on hold pending the investigations against Soundview, according to the DOH. The agency denied the WIC request because the nonprofit employed people convicted of felonies in high-ranking positions.
Espada also answered “no” on two applications to the federal Department of Health and Human Services when asked about being delinquent on any federal debt.
One application seeking $852,000 was signed June 2008, a time when Soundview owed payroll taxes.
Espada’s representative did not respond to requests for comment.