A Republican, Skelos served in the New York State Assembly and later represented the Ninth District in the New York State Senate from 1985 through 2015. He served as Senate Majority Leader in 2008 and again from 2011 to 2015. Skelos forfeited his Senate seat when he was convicted on federal corruption charges in 2015.
"Guilty, Again: Dean Skelos, Former Senate Leader, Is Convicted of Corruption in Retrial". New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
The trial verdict automatically terminated Dean Skelos from the state legislature. On May 12, 2016, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood sentenced Dean Skelos to five years in prison, and Adam Skelos to six-and-a-half years in prison. Wood allowed both to remain free on bail pending appeals based on the U.S. Supreme Court 's decision in McDonnell v.
New York Times. ^ "Corruption retrial begins for Skelos, son". Pressconnects.com. June 19, 2018. ^ Campbell, Jon (July 17, 2018). "Ex-Senate Leader Dean Skelos, son guilty again". wgrz.com.
Fordham University ( JD) Dean George Skelos (born February 16, 1948) is an American convicted felon and former politician from Long Island, New York. A Republican, Skelos served in the New York State Assembly and later represented the Ninth District in the New York State Senate from 1985 through 2015. He served as Senate Majority Leader in 2008 and ...
Dean Skelos reported to the Federal Correctional Institute in Otisville, Orange County, New York to begin his prison term on January 8, 2019. Under New York State law, Skelos continued to draw his annual pension of nearly $100,000 while in prison.
Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, were arrested and charged with six counts of corruption by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on May 4, 2015. The criminal complaint included extortion, fraud, and bribe solicitation charges. Skelos was accused of taking official actions to benefit a small Arizona environmental company, AbTech Industries, and a large New York developer, Glenwood Management, that had financial ties to AbTech. According to the complaint, Senator Skelos agreed to do so as long as the companies paid his son. On May 28, 2015, Skelos and his son were indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of bribery, extortion, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
The new indictment charged that Skelos procured a position for his son at a medical malpractice insurance company with business before the state, that Adam Skelos was not qualified for the position, that Adam Skelos threatened his supervisor, and that Adam Skelos asserted that "he didn't need to show up to work because his father was the Majority Leader of the State Senate".
According to the complaint, Senator Skelos agreed to do so as long as the companies paid his son. On May 28, 2015, Skelos and his son were indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of bribery, extortion, wire fraud, and conspiracy. After his arrest, Skelos asserted that he and his son were innocent.
On July 17, 2018, Skelos and his son were found guilty of eight felonies. On October 23, 2018, Skelos was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.
He served as Senate Majority Leader in 2008 and again from 2011 to 2015. Skelos forfeited his Senate seat when he was convicted on federal corruption charges in 2015. In 2017, his conviction was overturned following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in McDonnell v. United States.