Brooklyn State Sen. Carl Kruger Surrenders To FBI

CBS New York 03/10/2011 19:11

In a case that’s become all too familiar, two elected officials in New York are accused of using their office for personal gain. A state senator, an assemblyman and a well-known lobbyist are among eight people charged in a federal influence-peddling case.

A criminal complaint issued Thursday names Sen. Carl Kruger and Assemblyman William Boyland Jr., both Brooklyn Democrats.

Charges in the complaint include conspiracy and money laundering. The complaint alleges that Kruger “received a stream of bribes totaling at least $1 million” and pushed legislation benefiting a health care network. It says he directed state money to lobbyist Richard Lipsky, who also is charged.

“Every single time we arrest a state senator or assemblyman it should be a jarring wake up call, instead it seems that no matter how many times the alarm goes off Albany just hits the snooze button,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. “When prosecutors charges politicians it should not feel like a scene from Groundhog Day and yet it does.”