CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano was found guilty of corruption and his wife, Linda, was also convicted in Central Islip on Friday.
Mangano, 56, was accused of taking bribes from restaurateur Harendra Singh, which included a $100,000-per-year “no-show” job for his wife, free meals, vacations and a designer watch for their son valued at over $7,000.
Prosecutors say Mangano repaid the favors by supplying Singh with county contracts worth over $400,000.
The defense insisted the bribes were gifts from a longtime friend.
Mangano's attorney Kevin Keating addressed reporters outside federal court in Central Islip following the guilty verdict and promised an appeal.
“We remain confident that we’ll be vindicated,” Keating said.
While Mangano was found guilty of bribery, wire fraud and putting together a loan scheme in Oyster Bay, he was acquitted on counts relating to two Nassau County contracts.
Linda Mangano, 56, was also found guilty on four of five criminal charges stemming from making false statements to the FBI and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors say she worked to cover up Singh’s bribes once the FBI began investigating the couple.
Her attorney is also promising an appeal.
“We remain confident nothing has changed and we will continue our fight,” Keating told reporters.
New York state Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a former federal prosecutor who represents Long Island, responded to the verdict in a statement saying it “is a sad reminder that for too long elected officials have used their positions to enrich themselves at the expense of the public they were meant to serve.”
“This should also be a reminder that federal prosecutors cannot be expected to bring all of the necessary corruption cases in New York, and that state prosecutors need to be given the tools to help police the political landscape,” Kaminsky added. “In Albany, it is high-time for a white collar reform agenda that will allow DAs to hold elected officials accountable, something that is too rarely seen.”
Additionally, U.S. attorney Richard Donoghue said the tax payers of Nassau County deserved better.
“Your reward is your paycheck and the satisfaction of public service and not jewelry, lavish vacations and no-show jobs,” Donoghue told reporters.
The verdict came after five weeks of testimony and six days of jury deliberations.
Their first trial ended in a mistrial in May 2018.