Former NYC Top Cop Kerik Facing 61 Year Prison Sentence

by: jim kouri | published: 11 07, 2009

Bernard B. Kerik, former Commissioner of the New York City Police Department and the Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty in White Plains, NY federal court to eight felonies, two of which were separately charged in an indictment in the District of Columbia, according to documents obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

Kerik pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen C. Robinson to: one count of obstructing and impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws from 1999 to 2007, one count of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return, one count of making a false statement on a loan application and five counts of making false statements to the federal government.

Two of the false statement counts -- the two counts that Kerik also agreed to transfer to White Plains from Washington, D.C. -- relate to false statements that Kerik made to White House officials vetting him for the position of Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Kerik's illustrious career included heading the Iraqi police training program following the US-led removal of Saddam Hussein.

At Thursday's plea hearing, Kerik admitted, among other things, that in 1999 and 2000, he received substantial renovations to his Riverdale apartment through Interstate (a metropolitan area-contractor) and conceded that Interstate paid approximately $255,000 for the renovations. Kerik also admitted that around the same time, he contacted New York City regulators concerning Interstate.

Kerik further admitted that he failed to report the value of the renovations he received through Interstate on his federal tax returns. And Kerik admitted that he made false statements to the White House concerning the renovations he received on his Riverdale apartment and his relationship with Interstate when he was being vetted for the position of Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“It is a sad day when the former chief law enforcement officer of New York City pleads guilty to eight federal felonies,” said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. “But no one is above the law. And this office will not hesitate to pursue any public official who violates his oath and betrays the public trust.”

Kerik, 54, faces a statutory maximum sentence of 61 years. Kerik has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $187,931 and is also subject to additional fines. (Full disclosure: The subject of this report is an acquaintance and colleague of this writer.)

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