Aaron Showalter/New York Daily News
Assemblyman WIlliam Boyland Jr. leaves the Brooklyn Federal courthouse after another day of testimony in his corruption trial
Assemblyman William Boyland, Jr., soaked taxpayers for more than $ 70,000 in per diem reimbursements, claiming he was in Albany on legislative business when he was actually pigging out in Brooklyn and even Istanbul, an FBI agent testified Wednesday.
FBI special agent Vanessa Tibbits said she followed the Brooklyn Democrat’s electronic trail as he made fast food purchases at McDonalds, Subway and Junior’s restaurant and the Lindenwood Diner on the very days he submitted vouchers to the Legislature for travel and lodging expenses in the state capitol.
Boyland’s bank records were like a trail of crumbs leading to Bubbie’s Pie, Burger King and Red Lobster. There were transactions at a Bruce Springsteen concert at Madison Square Garden and a Toys R Us as well.
Despite his appetite for junk food, an incriminating email from Boyland’s personal nutritionist showed he was in Brooklyn on another day he was allegedly in Albany.
RELATED: EX-STAFFER SAYS BOYLAND USED ILLEGAL FUNDS TO WOO VOTERS
The most brazen request was on Oct. 23, 2009, when Boyland’s bank records showed he was at Kennedy Airport leaving for a Turkish cultural exchange program, but he texted his chief of staff a photo from a cruise ship with the comment, “Our group on the mar mar ocean. Its sexy.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Dugger confirmed with the agent that Boyland had sought reimbursement for a full week of Albany-related travel expenses while he was in Turkey.
The agent said that Boyland was reimbursed $ 152,955 in per diem expenses from 2007 to 2011 of which $ 71,339 he was not entitled to collect.
Last March state Controller Thomas DiNapoli shut down Boyland’s eligibility for per diem payments until he coughs up payment for the questionable charges.
Boyland’s lawyer did not contest the false billings in her opening statement of the trial.
Yahoo Local News – New York Daily News
http://ift.tt/N5LO6D
via Great Local News: New York http://ift.tt/1iZiLP1
No comments:
Post a Comment