How Bipartisanship Worked in Yonkers

MANHATTAN (CN) - In a strange blow for bipartisanship, a federal jury on Thursday convicted the former Democratic Majority leader of the Yonkers City Council and the former head of the Yonkers Republican Party of public corruption crimes.

Sandy Annabi, the Democrat, and Zehy Jereis, the Republican, were convicted of conspiracy to make and accept bribes, extortion, and other charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement announcing the verdicts.

Annabi, 41, faces up to 161 years in prison and Jereis, 40, both of Yonkers, of as much as 65 years, prosecutors said.

"Annabi and Jereis were convicted for participating in bribery schemes related to her position on the Yonkers City Council as well as the actions they took to conceal these schemes," prosecutors said in the statement. "Annabi was also convicted of making false statements to financial institutions related to loans she was seeking for two houses and an apartment in Yonkers, New York, and for filing false federal income tax returns. They were convicted on all counts after a seven-week trial before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon."

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