Lobbyist Pleads Guilty in N.Y. Senate Bribery Ring

MANHATTAN (CN) - Lobbyist Richard Lipsky faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to two federal counts of bribing former New York state Sen. Karl Kruger.

Lipsky, 64, of New York City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery. Each count is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Lipsky is a professional lobbyist and ran his own company, Richard Lipsky Associates, since 1981.

"Between 2007 and 2011, Lipsky paid over $250,000 to Olympian Strategic Development Corp. ... and Bassett Brokerage ..., two consulting companies controlled by Michael Turano, a Manhattan-based gynecologist," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement announcing the plea. "Kruger had a close relationship with Turano and was effectively a member of Turano's family. In exchange for the payments that Lipsky made to Olympian and Bassett, Kruger undertook official action to benefit Lipsky and his lobbying clients."

Lipsky will be sentence on May 4.

Kruger, 62, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2011, to conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. He will be sentenced on April 26.

Turano, 50, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty on Dec. 20, 2011 to conspiracy to commit bribery. He too will be sentenced on April 26.

Two other men have pleaded guilty in the bribery ring, one was acquitted and another awaits trial.

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