A Manhattan Jury has spoken. Former Lower East Side Assemblyman Sheldon Silver has been found guilty in his second trial on federal corruption charges.
The first verdict was tossed out on appeal after the U.S. Supreme Court narrowed the definition of public corruption. Prosecutors presented virtually the same case the second time around, while Judge Valerie Caproni altered her jury instructions to conform with the new standards. The jury just got the case late Thursday, and returned a verdict a short time ago.
Silver was convicted on seven counts, including two counts of honest services fraud and one of extortion under color of official right, and a count of money laundering. He was accused of pocketing $4 million from two kickback schemes, one involving a cancer researcher at Columbia University and the other involving real estate developers with business before the state.
Following the first trial, the lifelong Lower East Side resident was sentenced to 12 years in prison. A sentencing hearing in this trial will take place at July 13.
In retrial former assembly speaker Sheldon Silver swiftly found guilty on all counts. Great work by the SDNY team once again. All New Yorkers should be grateful.
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) May 11, 2018
