CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (WCBS 880) -- A former high-ranking Long Island official will spend over a year in prison for obstruction of justice.
Richard “Rob” Walker, the Chief Deputy County Executive in Nassau under Ed Mangano, received an 18-month prison sentence Tuesday.
“While occupying an important position of public trust, Walker accepted illicit payments from a contractor, encouraged the contractor to commit perjury before a federal grand jury, and lied to the FBI to cover up his crimes,” said United States Attorney Breon Peace.
The court also ordered that Walker pay $5,000 in forfeiture, a $5,500 fine and that he perform 2,000 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty back in 2019.
In 2014, Walker accepted a $5,000 cash payment from a contractor who was performing work on a county contract, according to officials.
Then in 2017, Walker learned that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI opened a grand jury investigation of potential corruption in Nassau government.
Walker spoke to the contractor several times, officials said, trying to persuade him to hide the $5,000 payment from the grand jury, or give a false explanation about the transaction.
Walker arranged to meet the contractor in a park in Hicksville, where officials said he gave the contractor an envelope with $5,000 to try and make it seem like the payment never happened.
Walker denied ever receiving any cash payments from the contractor when he was interviewed by the FBI.
In recorded conversations, Walker repeatedly said the payment didn’t have to be disclosed if he returned it.
“You [the contractor] only borrowed it and I gave it back to you…there was never a quid pro quo,” he said. And if he returned the money, “It doesn’t exist…wouldn’t you rather it not existing?”
Officials said in another recorded conversation, Walker said, “Just be honest. I borrowed the money from you. I gave it back to you…My mother-in-law was sick…it’s over.”
He also said, “[The money] doesn’t exist. That’s it.”
In court, Walker apologized to many people, including "the citizens of Nassau County who I love,” according to Newsday.
Walker worked under Mangano, who was convicted on corruption charges in 2019.
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