http://nypost.com/2017/07/20/c...in-corruption-trial/
Councilman found guilty of five counts in corruption trial
Queens City Councilman Ruben Wills is guilty of five of the six counts against him in his corruption trial, a jury found Thursday night — including the top two felony counts of grand larceny.
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Councilman throws tantrum during corruption trial
Those convictions, for pocketing $30,000 in public funds, carries a maximum prison term of seven years.
“Ruben Wills’ crimes were a shameful violation of the public trust,” said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, whose office prosecuted the case
“Now, after a conviction by a jury of his peers, Ruben Wills will face the consequences.”
The Democrat from Jamaica had laughed and jeered from the defense table when his trial started two weeks ago, as assistant state attorney general Travis Hill laid out the prosecution case in opening statements.
Wills used the stolen loot on himself and his family members, jurors were told — including the purchase of a $750 Louis Vuitton bag, a Wii console and a three-pack of underwear.
But as the verdict was read, Wills wasn’t smiling.
He struck his fist against the top of the defense table, and turned to his lawyer with an expression of apparent disbelief.
He was found not guilty of a single misdemeanor count of falsifying business records.
His smile returned as he left court, allowed to remain free by Justice Ira Margulis pending his August 10 sentencing.
“They withheld numerous amounts of things that they know would have proven my case, and they shouldn’t even have brought the case,” he complained to reporters.
Wills pocketed the loot from his 2009 council campaign matching funds and from a state-funded charity he set up, New York 4-Life.
The charity, a nonprofit, was set up to aid single parents, among other good deeds.
The councilman’s lawyer, Kevin O’Donnell, had blamed any fiscal missteps on “poor bookkeeping” by a rookie politician.
But prosecutors told jurors that Wills simply liked to go on shopping sprees, including at Nordstrom, Century 21 and Macy’s — and showed the receipts to prove it.
His City Council colleagues promptly turned on him.
“Ruben Wills betrayed the trust of all New Yorkers,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, calling him “unfit to be a member of the City Council.”
Additional reporting by Michael Gartland and Laura Italiano
