Fancying himself a political “don,” Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. shamelessly sought payoffs from undercover agents posing as businessmen while his constituents got the shaft, prosecutors argued Monday in closing statements at his federal corruption trial in Brooklyn.
Assistant US Attorney Lan Nguyen took jurors for a stroll down a virtual bribery lane, reviewing the Brooklyn Democrat’s long list of alleged payola demands that were presented during the monthlong trial.
“We’ve taken you into the underbelly of this defendant’s corrupt, secretive and deceitful schemes, each one designed to line his pockets at the expense of his constituents,” Nguyen said.
Boyland — who also faces charges of wildly bloating his expense reports — is accused of promising political favors in exchange for cash, and prosecutors say he once requested $250,000 to deliver the support of high-ranking officials.
“All of this evidence is devastating proof that this defendant, William Boyland Jr., abused his power, abused the trust his constituents put in him, and sold his office for greed,” Nguyen said.
The prosecutor repeated the accusation that Boyland habitually used money from his nonprofit organization to fund his campaign. The money, Nguyen said, was meant to be used for community activities.
Boyland, who refused a plea deal for nine years in prison, faces up to 30 years behind bars if found guilty.
Before asking jurors to deliver a guilty verdict on all counts, Nguyen also replayed surveillance clips of Boyland discussing cash with the agents.
Boyland’s attorney, Nancy Ennis, argued her client had no intention of providing political favors to the agents and was simply paying them lip service to secure contributions.
“All the FBI got from Mr. Boyland in the end were promises,” she said in her closing. “Empty promises. Hollow promises.”
Boyland was preceded in office by his father, William Boyland Sr.