Ex N.Y Senator Gets 21-Month Prison Term in Tax Evasion Case

Airing Date May.15, 2011

A former state senator was sentenced in federal district court here on Friday to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty last year to obstruction of justice and tax evasion.

The former senator, Vincent L. Leibell III, a Republican from Putnam County, had faced 18 to 24 months in prison, based on sentencing guidelines. But Mr. Leibell's lawyer, David L. Lewis, asked the judge to take into account Mr. Leibell's "life of public service" and urged him to consider a "non-guideline" sentence, like allowing Mr. Leibell, 64, to do community service, "in which he publicly has to restore the faith in the people he has betrayed."

"We don't have public stocks anymore, where he can stand with his head and arms in stocks," Mr. Lewis said, trying to convince the judge that Mr. Leibell's crime would be forgotten in jail, but that doing some sort of "social restitution" would be more humiliating for Mr. Leibell and would offer a broader, more public lesson.

Perry A. Carbone, one of the assistant United States attorneys prosecuting the case, pressed for the full 24 months.

"Now it's time for him to pay his debt," Mr. Carbone said.

Referring to a four-page letter Mr. Leibell sent to the judge offering to serve as a diplomat to the Middle East instead of a prison term, Mr. Carbone added that Mr. Leibell was "young enough and healthy enough" to serve his sentence "with time left over to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Beirut."

Mr. Lewis also mentioned the letter, which he said had caused Mr. Leibell "a tremendous amount of derision and mockery," but said that his client was not looking for some "cushy" posting; rather, he was motivated by a desire to serve his country.

Mr. Leibell opted not to speak on his own behalf, but throughout the sentencing, Judge Warren W. Eginton seemed notably impressed with Mr. Lewis's presentation, telling him several times that his case was "well presented" and that Mr. Leibell was being "well served."

After the sentencing, Mr. Leibell, who served 28 years in the State Assembly and then in the State Senate, walked silently to the back of the courtroom and hugged his wife. Minutes later, they walked out of the courthouse and into a waiting black S.U.V.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• state senator
• home land security
• Vincent L. Leibell
• tax evasion

[tyronebiggums3]

Rape, tax evasion,...

the "elite" want it all. LOL

[Chad9976]

term limits would do more harm than good. Once a politician reaches their term limit what's their incentive to NOT be corrupt?! It's the concept of a "lame duck congress" to an exponential power because it's on an idividual basis. That would make politicians ever MORE beholden to lobbyists and less to their party.

OPEN GOVERNMENT TRUMPS TERMS LIMITS!!

[RefoundingParty]

Ron Paul 2012!

watch?v=lqarBQdkIyU

[THINKINGFREEMAN]

Hey this is why they get in government.

I would bet that if you investigated every politition you would find only 1 in 5 was not guilty of some sort of sceme to fleece the public somehow.

Both Clintons have many non profits only difference between them and this guy is they are on a hire level.

[jjvescovi11]

They problem is dehumanization. The elite feel they are human and regular people are cattle for exploitation.

Time for trials and hangings.

[deathmarch5]

is in open rebellion and responsible for the national debt. congress under the 14th amendment but to defray there cosst they orr should i say roosevelt created the ponzi scam called social security. to pay for congressses treason making who ever participate in open rebellion to the republics of these united States.

[deathmarch5]

More proof is the 14th amendment bounty on public debt section 4 of the 14th amendment which makes anyone in open rebellion subject to the cost to stop it. IE public employees. Who by the way created the federal reserve??? in 1913??? congress did and who laundered 60 billion in gold to Germany the federal reserve did. for proof of this action see Mc Faddens congressional speach on the house floor in the year 1933. This bankrupt America and was planed in 1928 in Genevia SWZ. So now we know who

[deathmarch5]

How ever the social security application which is for federal employees to have a retirement plan was designed to do several things for the government. One it makes state citizens either abandon or have a dual citizenship to the state and federal govvernment which makess all People who apply perjur them selves, Cause only US citizens can be public employees. It makes People subject to taxation and ss trust account has been ransacked to pay for the wars. Its a ponzi scam google:Mendel House " "

[deathmarch5]

What People dont know was the 16th amendment was created to make 14th amendment citizens responsible for the national debt. But the confusion is what or who is a 14th amendment citizen because there is state Citizenship which is not under the 14th amendment but under article 4 section 2 clause 1. Basically the 14th amendment was created to take sovereignty from public officials so they could not rebel like the south did. "born or naturalized and SUBJECT to the Jurisdiction" is there oath.

[SeppLainer]

This is nothing new or unusual. Unworthy of the news. Now, back to Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton, please.