Mario Biaggi - Corruption Convictions

Corruption Convictions

In 1987 Biaggi was charged with corrupt actions. He had accepted free vacations from former Brooklyn Democratic leader Meade Esposito in exchange for using his influence to help a ship-repair company that was a major client of Esposito's insurance agency. He was convicted of accepting an illegal gratuity and obstruction of justice, sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison, and fined $500,000. The House Ethics Committee recommended that Biaggi be expelled — the most severe penalty.

In 1988, Biaggi was charged in the Wedtech scandal of having accepted bribes for assisting Wedtech in getting Federal procurement contracts. He was convicted of 15 counts of obstruction of justice and accepting illegal gratuities. He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment but was ordered released in 1991 by the sentencing judge on the grounds of ill health (heart problems, arthritis, broken bones from four falls in prison).

Biaggi, who was about to be expelled from the House, now resigned his seat. Since primary election petitions were aleady filed, Biaggi remained on the ballot for the Democratic and Republican nominations in the 19th District. He did not campaign, and lost the Democratic primary to then-Assemblyman Eliot Engel. Although the 19th District was still relatively conservative at the time, Bronx Republican Chairman and State Senator Guy Velella chose not to field another candidate to run for the seat and left Biaggi on the ballot. In the general election, Engel easily defeated Biaggi.