Each count carries maximum of 20 years in prison.
By The American Bazaar Staff
WASHINGTON, DC: A New York City Democrat politician, Albert Baldeo, who is of Indo-Caribbean origin, has been found guilty on seven counts of obstruction of justice, of tampering with witnesses, in Manhattan federal court after a two-week trial. He was acquitted of three mail and wire fraud counts relating to approximately $15,000 in claims for city matching funds, but the guilty counts each carry a maximum of 20 years.
Baldeo, a Queens-based attorney and politician, had run for elected office several times without success. He was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with allegations that he used straw donors to fund his campaign for a special election to the City Council in 2010. He previously had run for the Council in 2005, and the state Senate in 2006, reported the Queens Chronicle.
Baldeo said he is appealing the convictions. He claims the fact that he was acquitted on the mail and wire fraud charges shows that the government’s case had no merit, and that the jury was deadlocked for two days before the judge “demanded” a unanimous verdict.
“We … condemn the fact that the hung jury was forced to make a decision ‘one way or the other’ in this case when they specifically reiterated to the Judge that they lacked unanimity, and were deadlocked and had doubts in finding Mr. Baldeo guilty of the obstruction of justice charges,” said a statement issued by People for Baldeo, which is based at his office.
Baldeo said, according to the Chronicle, the FBI had intimidated contributors to the campaign, saying they would be deported if they did not back the government’s claims. Those people then called Baldeo for advice, he said, and when he advised them of their constitutional rights, the government “retaliated” by bringing the obstruction charges. He faces up to 20 years in prison on each of those counts.
The defendant said the real reason he was charged is that he is an agent of change whose representation of the Indo-Caribbean community is not welcomed by the political establishment.
The New York Observer issued a statement by Preet Bharara, the US District Attorney, on Baldeo’s verdict.
“The fact that Albert Baldeo lost his election does not excuse his corrupt conduct. With today’s verdict of guilty, an impartial federal jury has found that Baldeo lied and instructed others to lie to law enforcement agents investigating the source of his campaign contributions, and threatened and intimidated others in order to conceal the truth,” Bharara said. “These practices have no place in our politics or our justice system, and there should be no doubt that this Office will prosecute such conduct while it continues to vigorously investigate and prosecute political corruption in New York City and New York State.”