WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - The former deputy mayor of a New York suburb has admitted accepting bribes to push a real estate project.
Former Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret (DESS’-mah-ray) pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court. Prosecutors agreed not to seek a sentence of greater than nine years.
The case against Desmaret was part of the prosecution of an alleged scheme to buy a spot on the New York City mayoral ballot for state Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens.
Smith and three remaining codefendants have pleaded not guilty. No trial date has been set.
Desmaret is the second defendant to take a plea deal.
Joseph Savino, the former Bronx Republican chairman, pleaded guilty in November. He admitted accepting a bribe to help Smith, a Democrat, run for mayor as a Republican.
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