ALBANY - Joseph Percoco, a former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is headed to federal prison next week.

Percoco had been out on appeal after he was convicted a year ago on charges that he took bribes from upstate developers with business before the state.

Percoco, 48, of South Salem, Westchester County, sought to stay out of jail pending appeal. But the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan denied Percoco bail pending appeal.

He will have to report to prison on March 14.

Percoco had been the Democratic governor's closest aide and friend for decades and ran Cuomo's re-election campaign in 2014.

But Percoco was sentenced to six years in prison last year after a jury found him guilty of accepting more than $300,000 from companies with dealings before the state.

The appeals court heard Percoco's case to stay out of jail on Wednesday and ruled Thursday.

Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office had argued against Percoco remaining free, saying he hadn't raised legitimate questions about his conviction that would lead for the case to be overturned on appeal.

But Percoco's attorney have sought to toss the conviction based on a 2016 case involving former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. That case found it is not enough to solely convict a government official if they only set up a meeting or an event for a contributor.

More: Joseph Percoco, Andrew Cuomo's former right-hand man, to remain free for now

More: New York deals setback to $900M power plant in Joe Percoco corruption case </s> A federal appeals court has ordered Joseph Percoco, the former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to report to prison by next Thursday.

The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan on Thursday denied bail to Percoco pending the appeal of his March 2016 corruption conviction.

Percoco, who was so close to Cuomo that he was likened to a brother, was sentenced to six years after his conviction on charges he accepted over $300,000 in bribes from two energy companies seeking to influence Cuomo’s administration.

He was acquitted on extortion charges and of soliciting bribes from Syracuse-based COR Development Co.

Manhattan federal Judge Valerie Caproni — who oversaw Percoco’s trial and handed down his sentence — first denied Percoco’s application for bail.

An appeals court judge last week temporarily stayed Caproni’s order until a three-judge panel could hear the oral arguments that were held Wednesday.

Percoco’s lawyer, Walter Loughlin, said, “I am disappointed that Joe Percoco was denied bail pending appeal. He has been at liberty on bail since September 2016; that same bail has been in place for the year since the trial and for nearly six months since Mr. Percoco’s sentencing.”

But Loughlin said he is “confident in the merits” of Percoco’s appeal.

Meanwhile, the panel approved the request by Percoco’s co-defendant, Steven Aiello, to remain free while he fights his case.

Aiello, the president of COR, was convicted of conspiracy to commit honest-services fraud while acquitted on charges of paying bribes and lying to the feds.

In a second trial, Aiello was convicted on a bid-rigging scheme. He was sentenced to three years in prison for both cases.

Aiello’s lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, said, “We are pleased with the ruling and look forward to the opportunity to present our appellate arguments to the merits panel.” </s> A federal appeals court on Thursday refused to grant former Albany powerbroker Joseph Percoco bail pending appeal of his corruption conviction, ordering the one-time top lieutenant to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to report to prison by March 14.

Percoco, 61, of South Salem, was convicted last year of taking bribes from an energy company and a Syracuse developer to use his influence in the executive chamber on their behalf. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

He was originally ordered to report to prison on March 1, but a judge of the 2d U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals delayed that date to give him a hearing on a request for bail while he appeals his conviction. The hearing occurred on Wednesday.

Percoco is challenging legal rulings at his trial that allowed the government to present evidence of his behavior while he was a private citizen running Cuomo’s campaign to prove that he engaged in public corruption.

At Wednesday’s hearing, he also told Judges Susan Carney, Robert Sack and Alison Nathan that at his trial, the judge did not require prosecutors to prove that he was bribed in return for a specific official act, and instead permitted a so-called “stream of benefits” theory that he agreed to do favors as needed.

The judges did grant bail pending appeal to Percoco co-defendant Steven Aiello, one of the Syracuse developers accused of paying him money for favors. </s> A Northern Westchester man and former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been ordered to report to prison after being convicted on corruption charges and having his appeal denied.

Joseph Percoco, a South Salem resident, was convicted of accepting $300,000 in bribes from an energy company last year and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Percoco was originally scheduled to report to prison on March 1, but a court ruled that he can stay a free man as he appeals his conviction. On Thursday, March 7, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan denied Percoco’s bail and he was ordered to report to prison next week.

Late last month, Percoco’s lawyer petitioned for the delay until after the court rules on a motion for bail filed by Steve Aiello, who was convicted of funneling money to the former aide. The lawyer noted that both men were convicted of the same crime, so their fates are intertwined, pending the decision on bail motions. On Thursday, a three-judge panel denied the request after hearing oral arguments on Wednesday.

In a prepared statement following Percoco's initial conviction, Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said, “Joseph Percoco was found guilty of taking over $300,000 in cash bribes by selling something priceless that was not his to sell – the sacred obligation to honestly and faithfully serve the citizens of New York. As every schoolchild knows, but he corruptly chose to disregard, government officials who sell their influence to select insiders violate the basic tenets of a democracy."

In a statement following Percoco's sentencing, Cuomo said it should “serve as a warning” to public servants who “fail to uphold” their oath as a public servant.

“I was an Assistant District Attorney and Attorney General, and the rule of the law is paramount,” he said. “Joe Percoco is paying the price for violating the public trust.

"And it should serve as a warning to anyone who fails to uphold his or her oath as a public servant. On a personal level, the human tragedy for Joe’s young children and family is a very sad consequence.”

The jury nearly forced a mistrial last year after reaching a breaking point following nearly two weeks of deliberations. Several asked out and reported they were deadlocked as recently as two days before the conviction, but they ultimately reached a consensus regarding Percoco.

Letters of support for Percoco flooded Manhattan federal court from several former members of the Cuomo administration on behalf of Percoco as his sentencing approached, though the governor himself did not come forward in his defense.

In a letter to Judge Valerie Caproni dated Sept. 13 last year, Percoco expressed his remorse, calling his position in public service, “the privilege of (his) lifetime.” He noted that he “regrets that (he) has brought shame and embarrassment upon (his) former colleagues.”

“I lay awake at night filled not with the fear of what is to come for me, or the pain and embarrassment that I have brought upon myself, but with tremendous remorse for my actions and regret for the damage I have caused to others. I live with those feelings and that weight every minute of every day of my life,” he wrote.

“The choices that have brought me before this court were my choices and my choices alone. Integrity and careful attention to the rules were always virtues I demanded from each and every one of my colleagues. I failed to live up to my own high standards."

Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts. </s> NEW YORK — A federal appeals court has ordered a former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to report to prison next week.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan denied Joseph Percoco bail on Thursday pending appeal.

Percoco, who ran Cuomo’s 2014 re-election campaign, was sentenced to six years after his conviction last year on charges he accepted over $300,000 from companies seeking to influence Cuomo’s administration.

Cuomo, a Democrat, wasn’t accused of wrongdoing, but the trial cast an unfavorable light on his office.

The three-judge appeals panel ordered Percoco to report to prison by next Thursday after hearing oral arguments Wednesday.

A lawyer for Percoco had argued there were serious enough legal questions about Percoco’s conviction that he should be free pending appeal. Prosecutors opposed the request. </s> NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has ordered a former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to report to prison next week.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan denied Joseph Percoco bail Thursday pending his appeal.

Percoco, who ran Cuomo's 2014 re-election campaign, was sentenced to six years after his conviction last year on charges he accepted more than $300,000 from companies seeking to influence Cuomo's administration.

Percoco's conviction was an election-year embarrassment for Cuomo, a Democrat. Cuomo had once likened Percoco to a brother.

Cuomo wasn't accused of wrongdoing, but trial testimony presented an unflattering picture of the inner workings of his office.

"Frankly, it's not surprising that the people of this state have completely lost faith in government," U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni said at Percoco's sentencing in September.

The trial and its aftermath occurred as Cuomo successfully ran for re-election last year, winning in a landslide.

The three-judge appeals panel ordered Percoco to report to prison by next Thursday.

A lawyer for Percoco had argued there were serious enough legal questions about Percoco’s conviction that he should be free pending appeal. Prosecutors opposed the request. </s> The court also wrestled with Percoco’s status as a “public official” during the period when he ran Cuomo’s 2014 campaign. The trial showed that Percoco maintained a regular presence in the executive chamber even when he was off of the public payroll. </s> Two former allies of Chris Christie were found guilty of all charges Friday for their roles in the Bridgegate scheme that decimated the New Jersey governor’s White House bid. Former Christie top aide Bridget Anne Kelly and ex-Port Authority executive Bill Baroni face up to 20 years for the most serious charge of wire fraud. The 12-person jury took five days to convict the Christie cronies on all nine counts. Kelly, 44, began weeping immediately after the verdict was announced. Baroni, also 44, showed no emotion.(nydaily.com)…[+] </s> Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manager who was sentenced earlier this year to four years in prison for financial crimes, will be moved to New York City’s infamous Rikers Island prison, it has been reported.

Manafort, 70, whose crimes stemmed from work he did advising politicians in Ukraine, has until now been incarcerated at a minimum security facility in Pennsylvania.

But sources close to Manafort told Fox News that a New York State judge ordered his relocation to Rikers Island.

Manafort, who was sentenced in March to more than seven years in federal prison, is expected to be transferred to Rikers Island on Thursday.

The request to move Manafort to Rikers Island was made by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Presumably, Vance made the request as Manafort has been indicted in New York State on 16 felony charges.

Vance announced the charges against Manafort back in March. They include residential mortgage fraud and falsifying business records to commit fraud.

Manafort is alleged to have lied on mortgage applications in order to obtain loans.

'No one is beyond the law in New York,' Vance said in a statement at the time.

'Following an investigation commenced by our office in March 2017, a Manhattan grand jury has charged Mr. Manafort with state criminal violations which strike at the heart of New York’s sovereign interests, including the integrity of our residential mortgage market.'

If convicted, Manafort would not be eligible for a pardon from President Trump since the president’s pardon powers do not apply to state crimes.

Manafort will be held in solitary confinement for his own protection at Rikers Island.

The jail on Rikers Island, the 413-acre island to the north of LaGuardia Airport, is known as one of America’s most troubled correctional facilities.

Last year, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio presented a plan to shut down the jail in a process that is expected to play out over a period of up to 10 years.

But a New York state agency is recommending a speedier timeline for the jail’s closure due to a rise in ‘violence incidents and degrading conditions.’

Calls for the jail to be shut down intensified in recent years as the public learned more about the tragic case of Kalief Browder.

In 2010, Browder, an African American teen from The Bronx, was arrested and sent to Rikers Island jail at age 16 for allegedly stealing a backpack.

He was held for three years in jail without trial - two of those years in solitary confinement.

Shortly after his release, he killed himself after numerous suicide attempts.

Browder maintained his innocence. He was never tried or found guilty of any crime.

The Browder case has been cited by advocates of criminal justice reform since the boy was never able to afford the $3,000 bail, thus resulting in his extended stay at Rikers before he stood trial.

At Rikers Island about 85 per cent of the inmates have not been convicted of a crime and are either being held on bail or remanded to custody, according to the City of New York.

There are an estimated 10,000 inmates at Rikers Island.

Manafort was convicted in federal court after prosecutors accused him of hiding from the U.S. government millions of dollars he earned as a consultant for Ukraine’s former pro-Russia government.

After pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s ouster, prosecutors said, Manafort lied to banks to secure loans and maintain an opulent lifestyle with luxurious homes, designer suits and even a $15,000 ostrich-skin jacket.
Joe Percoco, former aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, is denied bail and is expected to start his six-year prison term for bribery.