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Feds, AG raid Espada's office

by: Michael Bouldin

Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 09:24:36 AM EDT

BRONX (WABC) -- Investigators executed a search warrant at Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr.'s non profit this morning, searching for evidence in several ongoing investigations into the Bronx Democrat.
Eyewitness News is told law enforcement officials descended on the Soundview Health Center on White Plains Road at 7 a.m.
Investigators from multiple agencies including the FBI, IRS, and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office -- immediately began bringing out boxes of evidence.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and Cuomo's office are apparently probing Espada for possible wire and mail fraud. Other law enforcement agencies are conducting concurrent investigation.

This is, to quote the Vice President, a Big Fucking Deal.

[Update]: Worth mentioning, of course, that Espada has a primary challenger, Bronx activist and community leader Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter. Toss her some green.

Michael Bouldin :: Feds, AG raid Espada's office

Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigations, Attorney General, Perdo Espada, (All Tags)

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Feds, AG raid Espada's office | 14 comments

The dream of Pedro in cuffs might cone true! (4.00 / 4)

Also, perhaps in all posts about Pedro we should mention that he has a primary challenger?

by: Roatti @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 13:47:31 PM UTC

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Done. nt. (4.00 / 2)

by: Michael Bouldin @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 14:18:15 PM UTC

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Excellent (4.00 / 2)

by: Roatti @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 16:17:25 PM UTC

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Halle-freakin'-lujah! (4.00 / 3)

Celeste Katz at Daily Politics has a picture of the entrance to Soundview Healthcare. Note the name on the awning; it's slightly reminiscent of the ways of dictators.

by: Dan Jacoby @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 14:43:18 PM UTC

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Pedro Puts His Mug on Everything (4.00 / 3)

There is also huge picture of him on the sign that lists the services at the clinic. I've often said his operation is a cult of personality, much like the North Korean dictatorship. An outrageous recent example was the banner he had made for a Dr. King march he sponsored. See photo in the article at this link:
http://www.bronxnewsnetwork.or...

Juan Gonzalez at the Daily News had another apt comparision:

New York's five mob families - the Luchese, Gambino, Bonanno, Genovese and Colombo clans - will have to make some room.
Say hello to the Espada organization out of the Bronx.

by: Jackbx @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 18:24:31 PM UTC

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First, Monserrate was (4.00 / 4)

...summarily fired...by his colleagues and his constituents; hopefully, Espada will be next. He needs to be fired, hopefully by his colleagues but, if not, then by his constituents.

Hopefully, Desiree Pilgrim-Hunter is a credible candidate to defeat Espada in a primary.

by: paco @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 16:02:04 PM UTC

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I think she's great (4.00 / 3)

and she's making all the right moves right now.

by: Roatti @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 16:18:18 PM UTC

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Problem Is (4.00 / 2)

That those using Soundview seem to be afraid that the clinic will be closed and believe that Espada because of the clinic is doing good by them. One thing that has to happen is to let those people know that the clinic won't be closed.

After that, haul the bum off in handcuffs and no sushi for 20 years minimum.

by: ROSALIE907 @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 18:30:41 PM UTC

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Felonies for the cause are A-OK (0.00 / 0)

That's the mentality that supports organized crime. The don is seen doing x, y, and z for the community, and the community turns the other way when the don breaks the law. It's a pretty sick neighborhood that does that.

by: Steaming Pile @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 19:50:22 PM UTC

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Tammany Hall did the same thing (0.00 / 0)

Boss Tweed built a lot of things, employed a lot of people, and accomplished a lot over the years when he was in charge. That doesn't excuse the money he stole from New Yorkers to line his and his friends' pockets.

Having said that, there is something to the idea of finding a way to keep the healthcare coming for people who need it and cannot afford it, even while going after anyone who used this facility as a "personal piggy bank."

by: Dan Jacoby @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 23:06:33 PM UTC

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oooo...fun! (0.00 / 0)

by: Amherst Guy @ Wed Apr 21, 2010 at 18:43:46 PM UTC

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Steaming & Dan (0.00 / 0)

Steaming you're right and it's unfortunate but people look after their own interest and will look the other way to crimes committed by someone who's also helping them.

Dan, his opponent MUST let these people know that Soundview will remain open but under new management that won't steal for his own gradification.

by: ROSALIE907 @ Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 02:03:16 AM UTC

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I hope somebody's taking a good hard look (4.00 / 3)

at the balance sheets for the "not for profit" clinic. I manage a medical group, and I know there's huge potential for medical billing fraud, once you have the identities and Medicare/Medicaid numbers for a pool of patients. The clinic may have been providing legitimate services to patients, but let's see EVERYTHING they were claiming. And compare that to the services actually received by patients.

by: janed @ Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 14:07:42 PM UTC

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Yup. (4.00 / 1)

This is the real kind of "medicaid/medicare" fraud that makes for very high NYS taxes. And it does not just happen at crooked clinics. It is a kind of crime I would like to see our new AG be very tough on.

by: robinia @ Thu Apr 22, 2010 at 20:05:38 PM UTC

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Feds, AG raid Espada's office | 14 comments

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