Monday, March 28, 2011

Feds unseal indictment charging Pedro Espada Jr. and son with tax evasion

Monday, March 28th 2011, 8:11 PM

Former state senator Pedro Espada Jr. is now in trouble with the feds.
Ward for News
Former state senator Pedro Espada Jr. is now in trouble with the feds.

The feds unsealed a superceding indictment Monday charging ex-Bronx state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. and his son with tax evasion.

He, and son Pedro Gautier Espada, were also hit with a new wire fraud charge in connection with a bid-rigging scheme to win a janitorial contract.

Pedro Espada Jr. is accused of filing personal tax returns in which he under-reported his income in the years 2005-2007.

His son is charged with filing falsified corporate returns for the janitorial service in 2004-2005, according to the indictment filed in Brooklyn Federal Court.

Both men are free on $750,000 bail and will likely be arraigned on the new indictment next week.

They are accused of stealing more than $550,000 from Soundview Medical Center coffers to pay for expensive dinners, tickets to Broadway shows and and sports events and a downpayment on a Bentley.

Federal prosecutors indicated the government will seek forfeiture of the Espadas' ill-gotten profits if they are convicted.

Pedro Gautier Espada's lawyer declined to comment. Pedro Espada Jr.'s lawyer could not immediately be reached.

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