Former Manhattan Councilman Miguel Martinez was sentenced to five years in prison today after pleading guilty to stealing tax dollars.
The former councilman will also repay the $106,000 he admitted to stealing from funds meant for low-income housing and arts programs in his district.
He will be on two years’ supervisory release following his sentence.
Martinez, who was first elected in 2001 to represent parts of Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill, resigned in July and pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering.
When he spoke in court today, Martinez said, “I stand here before you remorseful and shamed for the offenses I committed.” He also apologized to his family, three children, constituents and the City Council, and said if he could go back in time he would “do things differently.”
Martinez is expected to enter prison on January 4.
(Source: NY1)
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3 Responses
Yes, he would do things differently. Specifically, he’d learn to be smarter about covering his tracks. Statements about remorse, standing before the judge in a courtroom, are last ditch theatrics in the hopes of a lighter sentence. It’s amazing how all the viduyim and t’shuva come forth after a guilty verdict, and never before.
Isn’t that where politicians have their reunions?
I can’t imagine why Simcha Felder and Dov Hikind like to associate with such people.
#1, you are right. That is a lesson we all should learn. Don’t wait to do tshuva when you are in a tzoroh.