New York Scandal Figure Malcolm Smith Defeated for Re-Election

State Senator Malcolm Smith, a former Senate Majority Leader, yesterday lost a Democratic primary for his seat in Queens. He is scheduled to face a retrial in January for attempting to bribe Republican Party officials to allow him to run for New York City mayor as a Republican in 2013.

Smith, and his finances, first came under scrutiny by federal prosecutors after NLPC exposed his involvement with a charity called New Direction Local Development Corporation.  Along with U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Smith used New Direction as a slush fund for paying personal expenses and steering funds to cronies. Among other financial irregularities, the nonprofit raised money for Hurricane Katrina victims who never received the money.

Smith was defeated by former New York City councilman Leroy Comrie by a wide margin. Comrie also has links to Meeks and other prominent members of the Queen political machine, which is corrupt from top to bottom. As a councilman, Comrie requested “member items,” the New York City equivalent of earmarks, for a nonprofit called AngelDocs.

AngelDocs operated a fake health clinic called the Aki Life Health Center in Queens. Based on information provided on an exclusive basis by NLPC, the New York Post published a major exposé of the Center in April 2012. Its founder, the Nigerian-born Dorothy Ogundu, was convicted in December 2013 of defrauding 12 separate government programs for a total of $370,000. Meeks arranged for an earmark of $380,500 in federal funds.

Related:

Meeks Crony Baldeo Convicted of Obstruction of Justice

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Azerbaijan Trip by House Members Broke Rules

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John Sampson Busted; He Also Got Loan From Fraudster Ed Ahmad

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State Senator Malcolm Smith Busted in Scheme to Rig New York City Mayoral Race

Meeks Cronies Probed in Aqueduct Bid Rigging Scheme

NY State Sen. Shirley Huntley Says She Will Be Arrested; NLPC Exposed Her Sham Charity

Rep. Meeks Blames NLPC for Ethics Woes

Rep. Meeks Threatens to ‘Go After’ NLPC

Another Meeks Crony, Albert Baldeo, is Arrested

NLPC Asks Feds to Investigate Meeks’ House Sale

Meeks’ Crony Ahmad Busted by FBI

House Ethics Committee Investigating Rep. Gregory Meeks

Meeks Defends Secret Loans, Blames NLPC for Controversy

Testy Meeks Disclosed Loan Only After FBI Inquiry

What is Rep. Gregory Meeks Hiding?

Ex-Rep. Floyd Flake, Cronies Get More Media Scrutiny

Rep. Gregory Meeks Attacks the Wrong Peter Flaherty

NLPC Complaint Alleges Rep. Gregory Meeks Got Sweetheart Deal on Home

High-Living Congressman Meeks Blames NLPC for Scrutiny

Doubts Cast on Rep. Meeks’ New Account of Missing Katrina Funds

Rep. Gregory Meeks Blasted Bush Response to Hurricane Katrina

Why Haven’t Obama, Pelosi Jettisoned Rep. Gregory Meeks?

Rep. Meeks Can’t Account for Hurricane Katrina Money; Puts Spotlight on Paterson/Flake Aqueduct Gambling Deal

Are Corrupt NY Politicians Cashing in on Aqueduct Gambling?

Rep. Gregory Meeks’ Charity Looks More Like Slush Fund

http://online.wsj.com/articles/mistrial-in-new-york-state-senator-malcolm-smiths-federal-bribery-case-1403021831

http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2014/37/smith_web_2014_09_09_q.html