WGXC-90.7 FM

Percoco to serve six years in federal prison

Sep 21, 2018 6:45 am
Robert Gavin is reporting for the Times Union a federal judge September 20, sentenced Joseph Percoco to six years in prison and three years of supervised release for soliciting $320,000 in bribes and exploiting his power as Gov. Andrew Cuomo's former executive deputy secretary. "I see the motive for this crime as greed and arrogance," Judge Valerie Caproni told Percoco during his sentencing in the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse in lower Manhattan. "In terms of the nature and circumstances of the offense, there are few crimes that are more serious than a public official who takes a bribe," Caproni said. Percoco, 49, listened as a federal prosecutor described him as Cuomo's "enforcer" and asked the judge to send a message to corrupt officials. Percoco told the court he was sorry for his actions. "I live with the consequences every single day of my life," he said. Percoco will serve his time at the federal facility in Otisville, Orange County; he will report to federal prison on Dec. 28. In March, a jury found Percoco guilty of corruption for taking bribes from businessmen in two schemes, both of which involved payments to Percoco's wife. He was also convicted of honest services fraud, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and solicitation of bribes and gratuities. Read the full story in the Times Union.