Bernard Kerik, once the pride of New York City as its police commissioner, was sentenced on Thursday for a variety of felony charges that he pleaded guilty to.
The New York Daily News reports that Mr. Kerik was sentenced to 4 years in prison for his eight felonies. In November of 2009, he pleaded guilty to "lying to the White House, lying about $255,000 in work done with a mob-linked contractor and filing false tax returns." His alleged fraud towards the White House was in hopes that he would get the job as Secretary of Homeland Security.
Federal Judge Stephen Robinson handed down a sentence that was much longer than the recommended term of 26 to 33 months. As an explanation for the harsher sentence, Judge Robinson said, "The fact that Mr. Kerik would use that event [9/11] for personal gain and aggrandizement is a dark place in the soul for me." He added that Mr. Kerik's decision to break the law warranted additional jail time because he was the former police commissioner of New York City.
The Associated Press reported that Mr. Kerik was ordered to pay $188,000 in restitution as well as penalties for six years of past-due taxes. Mr. Kerik was able to return home until May 17, 2010 when he will be taken to jail in order to carry out his sentence.
The Lo Hud reports that Judge Robinson was also unnerved by Mr. Kerik's criminal actions while the case was pending. Apparently, Mr. Kerik attempted to influence the jury by giving them papers that "impugned the motives of prosecutors." Because of this action, Mr. Kerik's bail was revoked and he was taken to jail.
In a statement that Mr. Kerik delivered, he hoped that he would someday be remembered in history "for 30 years of service I've given to the country and the city of New York."
Related Resources:
- Bernard Kerik, Ex- NYPD Commissioner, Pleads Guilty (FindLaw's Courtside)
- Bernard Kerik, Ex-NYPD Top Cop, Faces Sentencing Thursday (FindLaw's Courtside)
- New York Criminal Defense Attorney Directory (FindLaw)
