General News
11/6/2009 1:08 AM ET
(RTTNews) -
Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded guilty to a slew of charges in his high-profile corruption trial in a federal court in White Plains and appeared to be headed to federal prison.
Kerik, who was New York's head of police at the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Thursday admitted to eight federal felony counts--two counts of tax fraud, one count of making a false statement on a loan application, and five counts of making false statements to the White House.
He pleaded guilty to accepting USD 2,55,000 worth of renovations to his apartment in the upscale New York suburb of Riverdale from a mob-linked construction firm vying for government contracts besides lying to the White House about the renovations when he was being vetted as the Bush administration's nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security.
According to the indictment, following the renovations, Kerik contacted regulators on behalf of the firm, but concealed the payments in tax returns as the firm was being investigated.
While Kerik faces a statutory maximum prison term of 61 years, prosecutors recommended a sentence of 27 to 33 months in prison in exchange for the guilty pleas though he does not have to accept the plea deal. Prosecutors said Kerik also agreed to pay $187,931 in restitution, and he could face additional fines.
"You've had a very full life," U.S. District Judge Stephen Robinson told Kerik. "There is much good in that full life, I believe." Robinson has scheduled the sentencing for February 18 at 10 a.m.
by RTT Staff Writer
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