Former state political leader Pedro Espada was convicted today of stealing more than $500,000 from a health clinic he operated.
Prosecutors say the former state senate majority leader embezzled money from the Soundview HealthCare Network, and used it for his own living expenses, from sushi to lavish vacations.
Espada has maintained his innocence.
Today, he was convicted of four counts of theft, and he faces 10 years in prison for each.
The jury is deadlocked on whether his son, Pedro Gautier Espada, helped him, however – a judge sent them back to continue deliberations.
The jury has deliberated for 11 days already.
According to the Daily News, Espada asked his supporters to wear red Friday, an effort to fight the “evil powers” of the government, and he wore rosary beads.
Espada lost his political seat in September 2010, and in December, he and his son pleaded not guilty to the theft charges.
He also faces a civil lawsuit that was filed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, then Attorney General, accusing him of stealing money from the clinics, and another accusing him of paying janitors as little as $1.70 per hour.
