Former Councilman Sentenced to 5 Years for Corruption

Councilman Larry Seabrook, who was convicted last July on 9 counts of wire and fraud charges, was sentenced in federal

(Photo: Facebook)
(Photo: Facebook)

Councilman Larry Seabrook, who was convicted last July on 9 counts of wire and fraud charges, was sentenced in federal court today to 5 years in prison. Upon his conviction, Mr. Seabrook was immediately expelled from the legislative chamber.

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“Councilman Larry Seabrook sacrificed the public trust on the altar of greed,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement. “He was a flagrant and serial abuser of City Council discretionary funds in a far too familiar New York tale of corruption,” Mr. Bharara said of Mr. Seabrook. “Today’s sentence finally vindicates the interests of the constituents whose trust he so casually violated by his fraud. We remain committed to making those who are corrupted by power pay the price, and the public can expect more arrests of politicians who have not learned this lesson.”

The evidence against Mr. Seabrook infamously included a receipt for a $7 bagel sandwich that prosecutors said had been doctored to put the cost at $177, enabling him to earn a profit off of the reimbursement.

Additionally, Mr. Seabrook was ordered to pay more than $619,000 in restitution to New York City and to forfeit another $418, 000. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee.

View the full sentencing statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York below:
[scribd id=119492457 key=key-16wk3o7aaynjyq6anq7q mode=scroll]

Former Councilman Sentenced to 5 Years for Corruption