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New York City - Kerik Offered Deal of Less Than 36 Months In Jail |
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Kerik faces three federal trials, the first on charges he got $255,000 in apartment renovations from a mob-linked contractor seeking a city permit.
The second trial, also in White Plains, involves charges of hiding more than $300,000 book fees, royalties and free rent from the IRS.
A third case filed in Washington federal court charges the former NYPD commissioner with making false statements on his application when President George W. Bush tapped him to be Homeland Secretary.
Under the proposed deal, the cases would be consolidated and Kerik would face a possible sentence of 27 to 33 months, a source familiar with the ongoing talks said. Kerik could be sentenced to 20 years if convicted.
As of yesterday, Kerik had not formally accepted the offer and could, in the end, decide to go forward with the first of three criminal trials starting next Monday in White Plains Federal Court.
Defense lawyer Barry Berke did not return calls seeking comment. A spokesman for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara declined to comment.
The deal would let Kerik plead to lesser charges in the corruption case, sources said.
He would only have to admit to conspiracy to deprive the city of honest services. In turn, the feds would drop mail and wire fraud charges which carry potential five-year sentences, the source said.
The former appointee of Mayor Rudy Giuliani would also have to plead guilty to some charges in the tax evasion case, as well as admit to filing false statements.
Pressure has mounted on Kerik to resolve his outstanding legal issues since Oct. 20, when prosecutors claimed Kerik was involved in trying to sway potential jurors on the eve of his trial.
White Plains Federal Judge Stephen Robinson threw him into the Westchester County jail.
He was segregated from other inmates because of his law enforcement background. Two days after he arrived he was placed in the psychiatric unit after displaying certain unspecified "symptoms" in lockup.
A letter from Dr. Robert Mahler released yesterday said Kerik was placed there "for observational purposes and psychiatric assessment in the context of psychosocial stressors."
Kerik was discharged from the unit after doctors determined he "poses no risk to himself or others due to any psychiatric illness."
Kerik is charged with getting a mob-linked contractor to pay for $255,000 in renovations to his apartment.
At the time, the contractor was seeking a city permit. Kerik, then the city's corrections commissioner, vouched for the contractor, prosecutors say.
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Read Comments (5) — Post Yours »
1
Nov 03, 2009 at 08:31 AM Anonymous Says:
Goes to show us all that when the govt wants to get you . They WILL , no matter who you are
2
Nov 03, 2009 at 09:00 AM Why is he better? Says:
Oh so he gets to plead and only serve 27 Months of a possible 20 year sentence but Rubashkin gets offered a 15 year plea deal. I don't get it!
3
Nov 03, 2009 at 02:35 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Oh so he gets to plead and only serve 27 Months of a possible 20 year sentence but Rubashkin gets offered a 15 year plea deal. I don't get it! ”
Why talk nonsense? how can u compare his case to Rubashkin? his charges are a joke compare to Rubashkin, but in the same time I really hope & wish for Rubashkin to win his trial and live peacfully with his family, I think that he has suffered enough and learned his lesson already. Hashem Yerachem!
4
Nov 04, 2009 at 12:15 PM Esq. Says:
“ Why talk nonsense? how can u compare his case to Rubashkin? his charges are a joke compare to Rubashkin, but in the same time I really hope & wish for Rubashkin to win his trial and live peacfully with his family, I think that he has suffered enough and learned his lesson already. Hashem Yerachem! ”
I would disagree. Kerik's crimes constitute a breach of the public trust. Rubashkin's were, in the final analysis, run of the mill. First, he employed illegal immigrants (something thousands of employers do every day, including every restaurant owner). Second, he may have committed bank fraud, a crime also committed on a regular basis. (Personally, I think the government is stretching it with those charges. Had he not been raided, he would not have defaulted on any bank loans, and there would have been no charges of fraud.) At the end of the day, the breaching the public trust, and lying the FBI and the President of the United States, should be considered the more severe crimes, even if there was less money involved.
5
Nov 04, 2009 at 12:41 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Why talk nonsense? how can u compare his case to Rubashkin? his charges are a joke compare to Rubashkin, but in the same time I really hope & wish for Rubashkin to win his trial and live peacfully with his family, I think that he has suffered enough and learned his lesson already. Hashem Yerachem! ”
Hardly, this man lied during his confirmation to become head on DHS!