Robert Aquino, former CEO of Parkway Hospital in Queens, NY, pleaded guilty earlier this week to bribing former state senator Carl Kruger to obtain his help in keeping the hospital open.
According to the indictment, the complaint and statements made in federal court, Aquino initiated a payment of $60,000 in 2008 to Apex Management, Inc., a company in which Kruger had interests, in exchange for Kruger's political help with Parkway, which was slated to close that summer.
“Robert Aquino was all too willing to make sure a bribe was paid to preserve his job as CEO of a hospital. Like others in this case, he chose to fight his battle with money under the table rather than to play by the rules. And like others in this case, he now faces the prospect of jail. This office remains committed to breaking the chains of corruption that weigh down New York politics,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in a statement.
Aquino faces a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. He was initially charged on March 10, 2011.
Kruger pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery on Dec. 20, 2011.