Former hospital exec charged with bribing state Sen. Carl Kruger convicted of corruption

The case against well-paid ex-hospital CEO David Rosen linked him in a pay-to-play conspiracy to Sen. Carl Kruger, Assemblyman William Boyland and the late Assemblyman Tony Seminerio.

Rosen, who was the first to be tried, formerly ran Jamaica Hospital, Flushing Hospital and Brookdale University Hospital. His lawyer described him as a "hero" who helped to bring health care to poor neighborhoods - but prosecutors said he crossed the line into dirty dealing.

During last month's bench trial, the U.S. Attorney's office charged Rosen with paying off the three elected officials in return for a promise of better treatment from Albany lawmakers.

"This is a sad, even tragic case," Federal District Judge Jed Rakoff wrote in his decision. "It reveals how a widely admired hospital administrator who diligently sought to better the health care of impoverished communities nonetheless chose to entangle himself in the bribing of state legislators."