New York state assemblyman Eric Stevenson, representing the South Bronx, has been accused of taking more than $22,000 in bribes in exchange for official acts, which included drafting and sponsoring legislation that would have effectively granted a monopoly to a network of adult day-care centers operated by four businessmen. He is vowing to fight all charges, the New York Daily News reported.
"I never told a guy to give money to do something for them... I never got into any situation of taking money from these people," Stevenson said. If convicted of the top conspiracy bribery charge in the five-count complaint, he could be sent to prison for up to 20 years.
"This is my life and career on the line," he told the New York Daily News. "You wake up and you're portrayed as monster in the newspaper... I'm charged with something outrageous. I'm going to fight it," he said.
The corruption claims against Stevenson is the second political scandal in a week for New York politicians. This comes two days after a state senator and five other political figures were busted for a separate bribery scheme.
In this case, Stevenson was caught by the cooperation of a crooked Assembly colleague, Nelson Castro, who became an informant for the FBI.
On Thursday, Stevenson was freed on $250,000 bond after a hearing with his four co-defendants in Manhattan Federal Court.
"Bottom line," Stevenson said in one wiretapped conversation on December 27, "if half the people up here in Albany were ever caught for what they do... they would probably be in jail." He then reeled of a list names of corrupt politicians and their respective sentences.
The 46-year-old Stevenson, who was reelected in November 2012 elections, was arrested with the developers of the adult daycare centers, including Igor Belyansky, Rotislav Belyanksy, Igor Tsimerman and David Binman.
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