A lawyer caught in the federal corruption probe targeting state Sen. Carl Kruger was sentenced to three years probation and fined $15,000 for lying to FBI agents about a bribe.
Michael Levitis, an attorney and restaurant owner, was sentenced by Judge Allyne Ross in Brooklyn federal court for lying when questioned about his involvement in a scheme to bribe the once-powerful former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee through an intermediary, whom he didn’t realize was an undercover FBI agent.
Levitis allegedly acted as a go-between in a scheme to help Kruger (D-Brooklyn) raise money in exchange for official favors, the feds say.
In April 2009, Levitis was caught on a audiotape telling the informant he needed to pay off Jason Koppel, Kruger’s longtime chief-of-staff and campaign treasurer, to get assistance on an upcoming business inspection.
The informant recorded another conversation with Levitis, and agreed to give him $3,000. About $2,000 was allegedly for Koppel, and the rest was allegedly for Levitis.