Disgraced ex-state Sen. Hiram Monserrate pleaded guilty this afternoon to scamming more than $100,000 in city “slush” funds to help fund a failed political campaign.
Monserrate, 44, agreed to serve up to 27 months in the slammer under terms of a plea deal with Manhattan federal prosecutors.
In court, Monserrate admitted asking the city to allocate “discretionary funds” to a non-profit called the Latino Initiative for Better Resources and Empowerment, or LIBRE, while he served on the council in 2006.
“I subsequently asked a LIBRE employee to use some of the funds to do certain things that I knew would benefit my campaign,” he said.
Monserrate added: “At the time, I knew this conduct was wrong and not legal, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Although the Queens Democrat lost that campaign for the state Senate, he later won a seat in Albany but was expelled from office after being convicted of roughing up his girlfriend during a jealous rage.
He was sentenced to probation and ordered to undergo counseling in that case.
Monserrate had been scheduled for trial in June, and prosecutor Brent Wible outlined the mountain of evidence the feds had against him.
Wible said two former executive directors of LIBRE were prepared to testify against Monserrate, along with several former members of his city council staff and “a number of residents of Queens” who were paid by LIBRE to conduct campaign work.
Monserrate, who wore a navy suit and sported a fresh haircut for his court appearance, declined comment afterward, and went to the courthouse cafeteria for a meal of tuna salad over greens and hard-boiled eggs.