Sampson, former Democratic Senate leader, charged with embezzlement; had fundraiser at Forest City offices in 2009

Senin, 06 Mei 2013

Sampson, former Democratic Senate leader, charged with embezzlement; had fundraiser at Forest City offices in 2009

Brooklyn state Senator John Sampson has charged with embezzlement, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, as the New York Times reports:

Mr. Sampson is accused of embezzling about $440,000 in funds involving the sale of foreclosed properties that he kept for himself instead of returning to court officials in Brooklyn. Mr. Sampson, who is a lawyer, was serving as a referee in the sale of the properties.

Reported the NY Observer:

Particularly stunning, [U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta Lynch] said, was Mr. Sampson’s attempts to thwart the investigation into thefts. After an unnamed associate’s arrest, she said, Mr. Sampson tried to obtain confidential information about the investigation, “going so far as to counsel lies and the hiding of evidence. At one point, he was recorded saying that if he was able to find out the identities of several cooperating government witnesses, he could arrange to ‘take them out.”

Mr. Sampson also appeared completely unaware of the severity of his alleged actions. During one point, he was interviewed outside his Brooklyn home by FBI agents, who accused him of lying to federal agents–a federal crime. When he was asked whether he wanted to revise his statements, he allegedly replied, “Not everything I told you was false.”

The FCR connection

Sampson has been an Atlantic Yards supporter and, as I reported 10/6/09, had a fundraiser hosted for him at Forest City offices:

Forest City Ratner offices at MetroTech are the site tonight for a fundraiser (minimum contribution: $1000) supporting Senator John Sampson, leader of the New York State Democratic Conference.
The evening is sponsored by the Albany-based lobbying firm of State & Broadway.
Forest City Ratner for years avoided direct political contributions, preferring to rely on lobbying. However, in January 2008, the company gave $58,420 to the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee's Housekeeping account.