Disgraced former state Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada was convicted Thursday of stealing more than $500,000 from the federally funded health agency he and his family ran. Click below to read the rest of the story.
But the jury told the judge it was deadlocked on four other counts against Espada — and on whether his son helped rip off the Soundview Health Center.
“We can’t agree on those counts,†the jury forewoman said in Brooklyn Federal Court after announcing the partial verdict.
Judge Frederic Block now has to decided whether to dismiss the panel, which struggled for 11 days to get this far, or force them to continue deliberating.
The jury still hasn’t reached a verdict on the fifth theft count against Espada for stealing nearly $80,000 from Soundview in 2009.
Nor has the jury reached a verdict on the three conspiracy counts against Espada.
Espada’s son, Pedro Gautier Espada, is charged with the same eight counts as his dad.
The one-time Democratic powerbroker,
who faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced, sat stone-faced when the verdict on four theft counts was read.
His wife, Connie, looked stricken and appeared near tears.
Before the verdict was read, Block warned everybody to behave.
“I don’t want any ruckus or noise because they are not finished with their service,” the judge said of the jury.
DN
