Bronx Councilman Seabrook busted on fraud and extortion charges

New York Post ^ | 02/09/10 | BRUCE GOLDING and CLEMENTE LISI

[AtlasStalled]

Three-term City Councilman Larry Seabrook was indicted today on extortion, fraud and money laundering charges -- including shaking down a Bronx boiler company who had received a contract from the Yankees -- after he was caught stealing as part of an ongoing probe stemming from a slush fund scandal, authorities said.

The feds claim Seabrook, who has been a member of the City Council since 2001, shook down the unnamed company for $50,000 after they were awarded a lucrative contract by the Bronx Bombers to install boilers at the new Yankee Stadium.

Seabrook (D-Bronx) took the money, in the form of checks that he endorsed, after he'd lobbied on the company's behalf to get the contract -- then used the cash to pay for parking tickets and credit card bills, according to the indictment unsealed today.

[AtlasStalled]

And from the Daily News:

City Council member Larry Seabrook funneled city money to shaky Bronx non-profits where his girlfriend and relatives were paid more than $500,000, prosecutors charged Tuesday. * * * He was also charged with collecting hundreds of dollars in expense money from the Northeast Bronx Community Democratic Club by submitting bogus expenses, the indictment said. In one case, Seabrook doctored the receipt for a bagel and a soda - $7 - to indicate he’d spent $177. * * * The Bronx council member is also a former state assemblyman and state senator.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/02/09/2010-02-09_city_council_member_larry_seabrook_faces_federal_criminal_charges_.html

[Elle Bee]

".....three term Bronx City Councilman ...."

another Amish republican? The article makes no mention

[fieldmarshaldj]

What good is it to be a Democrat Councilman and not be able to shake businesses down ?