Ex-NY Senate Leader, Son Accused of Pressuring Malpractice Insurer for Job

The latest indictment against a former state Senate leader says he pressured a malpractice insurance company that wanted to discuss legislation with him into hiring his son and then supported his son after he bragged to his new boss that he didn’t have to show up for work because of his father’s powerful post.

The indictment returned Tuesday in Manhattan federal court boosted charges against 67-year-old Dean Skelos and 33-year-old Adam Skelos, who now face eight counts, including new extortion and bribery charges.

Allegations regarding what the government said turned into a no-show job added its portrayal of the men as bullies who used the elder Skelos’ position for financial gain. Authorities had already alleged that at least $300,000 was illegally steered to the son, including $200,000 between November 2012 and last April by an environmental technology company that was threatened with losing a significant contract with Nassau County if the son wasn’t paid as a consultant.

Dean Skelos, who was the state’s most powerful Republican when he was arrested in May, has said he will fight the charges and he and his son will be vindicated. His son’s lawyer has said he’s not guilty. Their lawyers did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the new indictment.

In the newest allegations, prosecutors said a malpractice insurance administrator was lobbying Dean Skelos in 2012 about legislation critical to its business when he began repeatedly soliciting its chief executive to direct money to his son.

The indictment said Adam Skelos asked the executive for a full-time job when he and his father attended a political fundraising event in August 2012, saying he needed income and health insurance benefits. The executive told Dean Skelos later that day he had agreed to help Adam Skelos with a job and the father thanked him, the indictment said.

But Adam Skelos failed to report to the $78,000-a-year position almost from the start, showing up for no more than one hour for four days of his first week, the indictment said.

When a supervisor called to discuss his schedule, Adam Skelos threatened to “smash in” the supervisor’s head and told him he would “never amount to anything,” the court papers said. They added that Adam Skelos also told the supervisor he did not have to go to work regularly because his father was Senate leader.

Prosecutors say Dean Skelos then called the company’s chief executive, demanding to know why the supervisor had “harassed” his son. They added that the executive told Dean Skelos that his son had not shown up for work, had verbally abused his supervisor and had told fellow employees that he was entitled to special treatment because of his father.

According to the indictment, Dean Skelos told the executive he needed to resolve any issues the supervisor had with his son so he could remain employed. Prosecutors said Adam Skelos worked for three or more hours only on five days during four months with the company.