A Manhattan assemblywoman pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to two charges of making false statements and resigned her seat as a result.
Gabriela Rosa, 47, pleaded guilty to lying to immigration authorities about her marital relationship in 2005.
Prosecutors say while she was in a relationship with someone, she married someone else who could provide her with immigration papers.
She also pleaded guilty to making false statements in a bankruptcy petition in 2009, failing to include her second husband’s income in bankruptcy proceedings.
Rosa stressed that her charges are not public corruption.
“I want the people to really see that I didn’t do anything wrong in terms of my legislative duties as an elected official. This is something that happened in my personal life, way before I became an elected official,” Rosa said. “I never abused my position, I never abused my office, and I just want people to understand that nobody’s perfect.
Rosa, who represents parts of Inwood and Washington Heights, was first elected in 2012.
Before that, she served as a staff member in the state Assembly and City Council.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “Gabriela Rosa’s crimes cut to the heart of her legal qualification to serve the people of the State of New York as a New York State Assemblywoman. She gained the ability to run for that office only as a result of a years-long immigration fraud, and then she compounded her lack of fitness to serve by defrauding a federal bankruptcy court. Now she faces losing her position and prison time for her actions.”
Rosa faces 10 years in prison, although prosecutors are asking for as much as 18 months behind bars. Her lawyer told NY1 that she should get far less than that.
Sentencing has been scheduled for October 3.
She has agreed not to contest any sentence between a year and 18 months.
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