Politics & Government

Savino Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charges

Savino entered his guilty plea in federal court in White Plains.

Attorney Jay Savino appeared in federal court in White Plains Nov. 12 and pleaded guilty to three charges connected to bribery schemes in a scandal that included Spring Valley and New York City officials. 

He remains free on $250,000 bond and will be sentenced Feb. 24, according to LoHud.com.

Savino, who lives in Rockland, has an influential White Plains law firm, and was hired by the Town of Clarkstown to handle its property tax litigation matters, was Bronx Republican Party Chairman.

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The investigation ensnared state Sen. Malcolm Smith, New York City Council member Dan Halloran, Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin and Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret, and Savino and Queens County Republican Party Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone.

It led the U.S. Attorney in April to describe a "corridor of corruption stretching from Queens and the Bronx to Rockland County and all the way up to Albany itself."

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The charges included cash bribes of more than $100,000 in connection with the Republican race for New York City mayor, NYC City Council discretionary funds, and a development project in Spring Valley involving Jasmin and Desmaret.

In the indictment handed up in April, Preet Bharara, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Savino accepted $15,000 in cash and agreed to accept another $15,000 after he used his authority as head of the Bronx GOP to formally approve Smith’s appearance on the 2013 Republican ballot for New York City Mayor.

The Clarkstown Town Board terminated Savino's contract in May after the bribery charges were made public. 


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