|
 Skelos, a 67-year-old Republican, and his 32-year-old son, Adam,
were named in a six-count criminal complaint filed in Manhattan
federal court that included charges of conspiracy and extortion.
Prosecutors said Skelos pressured a real estate developer and an
environmental technology company to pay his son more than $200,000
in exchange for his support on infrastructure and legislation.
The men surrendered to the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday
morning. They were expected to later appear in court.
Skelos said in a statement he was "innocent of the charges leveled
against me." His son's lawyer did not respond to requests for
comment.
In the last decade, 22 legislators have been charged in Albany for
corruption, according to New York University Law School's Brennan
Center for Justice.
 Then-New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, was
charged for corruption offenses in January. This is the first time
in recent history that leaders of both of legislative chambers are
simultaneously facing charges.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Skelos' case showed that
"public corruption is a deep-seated problem" in New York.
Monday's complaint built upon evidence secured through cooperating
witnesses, wire taps and search warrants.
According to the complaint, beginning in 2010, Skelos and his son
pressured a real estate developer to pay Adam Skelos, a commissioned
title insurance salesman, while the company was lobbying for
legislation.
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Payments included $20,000 disguised as a commission and $4,000 per
month from an environmental technology firm tied to the developer
seeking to win government-funded contracts, the complaint said.
Campaign finance records indicate the unnamed developer was Glenwood
Management. Its lawyer declined to comment.
The complaint's description of the environmental company matched a
subsidiary of Arizona-based AbTech Holdings Inc <ABHD.PK>.
AbTech said on Monday it is cooperating with authorities.
In 2013 AbTech secured a $12 million stormwater systems project with
New York's Nassau County. The complaint said while the contract was
under consideration, Skelos and his son threatened to block it
unless payments were increased, resulting in Adam Skelos receiving
$10,000 per month.
By February, the company had paid Adam Skelos $198,000, the
complaint said, while Dean Skelos took steps to help the company.
(Additional reporting by Tom Brown; Editing by Bernadette Baum and
Richard Chang)
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