New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Charged in U.S. Corruption Probe

The arrest may throw the state capital into disarray at the beginning of a new session of the assembly.

Sheldon Silver, a Democrat and speaker of the New York State Assembly, makes a statement during a news conference in Albany, New York, U.S., on Wednesday, March 12, 2008.
Photographer: Jin Lee/Bloomberg News

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Patricia Hurtado and Freeman Klopott

January 22, 2015 at 1:23 PM UTC

Updated on

January 22, 2015 at 8:55 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver reaped millions of dollars in kickbacks in a 15-year conspiracy that involved medical referrals, real estate developers and law firms, the U.S. said.

Silver, 70, used his position to refer asbestos cases from a doctor to Weitz & Luxenberg PC, a personal injury law firm, and to induce developers to retain another law firm, collecting as much as $6 million in kickbacks, according to a complaint unsealed Thursday in Manhattan federal court. Charged with five counts including conspiracy and fraud, the lawmaker faces as long as 20 years in prison on each count.