Dean Skelos and son convicted on all counts

Former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam, have been found guilty on all counts in his corruption trial, making it the second successful conviction of a former Albany legislative leader in the last several weeks by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara. 

Federal prosecutors said Dean Skelos used his public office to direct payments to his son through companies that had business before the state.

Moments after the verdict was announced, Bharara tweeted out, “How many prosecutions will it take before Albany gives the people of New York the honest government they deserve?”

In the days following the U.S. attorney's arrest of then-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, reports began to emerge that Bharara was also investigating Skelos for his outside income and ties to the real estate industry.

On May 4, Skelos and his son were arrested on charges of extortion, fraud and bribery. Despite initially vowing to stand by him, Republican senators began to call for Skelos to step down from his leadership post after the release of a damning 42-page criminal complaint. As his support slowly deteriorated, he eventually stepped down as majority leader on May 11. Long Island state Sen. John Flanagan was elected to succeed him as majority leader.

The successful conviction of Skelos and his son is yet another victory for Bharara, who has vowed to clean up Albany. Silver was convicted on Nov. 30, and though he has vowed to appeal, experts say his chances of a successful appeal are slim. Bharara’s office also successfully prosecuted then-state Senate Deputy Leader Tom Libous this year and hinted there will be more arrests to come.