Newly unsealed court records show that restaurateur Harendra Singh secretly pleaded guilty in October 2016 to bribing former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.
In the documents, Singh said he gave gifts to Mangano and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, and tried to bribe a New York City official who is not named but has been identified in news reports as Mayor Bill de Blasio. In total, Singh pleaded guilty to eight federal charges, including bribery and fraud.
“Between January of 2010 and February 2015, I agreed with [Mangano, Venditto] and others, including other officials in both Nassau County government and the Town of Oyster Bay … to offer and give them bribes and kickbacks in exchange for them taking official action in my favor,” he said, according to the court document.
Singh paid for vacations taken by the Mangano family and provided Mangano’s wife, Linda, with a no-show job from 2010 through 2014 for which she was paid $450,000, according to the document.
“I hired Linda at the request of Ed Mangano and my purpose in hiring her was to influence Ed,” Singh testified.
Among the gifts given to Mangano were a massage chair, an office chair and a $7,000 watch for one of Mangano’s sons. Singh paid for wood flooring in the Manganos’ master bedroom and the family was allowed to eat and drink free at Singh’s restaurants.
Mangano’s attorney, Kevin Keating, dismissed Singh’s claims as fiction.
“The release of Singh’s plea confirms what we all knew — a man who faces decades in prison for his own vast and hidden criminality struck a cooperation deal, which stunningly included his release on bail, in a desperate effort to save himself,” he said in a statement to Newsday.
Singh said he gave Venditto similar treatment. His family ate free at Singh’s restaurants and received “significantly” discounted rates for events at Singh’s restaurants or dining halls, according to the court documents. He also provided Venditto with free use of a conference room and free limousine service.
Additional Oyster Bay officials — although none were named — received the same benefits as Venditto, according to the documents.
Singh said he did this to receive indirect loan guarantees from the town, collectively worth more than $20 million.
De Blasio was never mentioned by name, but the context of Singh’s comments matches the “elected New York City official” with the mayor.
Singh said between 2010 and 2015 he raised tens of thousands of dollars for the elected official in order to obtain “official action from a New York City agency that would benefit myself and the restaurants I owned.”
Specifically, he sought a favorable lease renewal for his restaurant Water’s Edge, located on the shore of the East River in Long Island City.
According to The New York Times, the relationship between Singh and de Blasio was investigated by the FBI and the United States attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York over an 18-month period. While no charges were brought against the mayor, prosecutors were critical of his fundraising methods.
When asked about Singh’s comments, de Blasio said he was unfamiliar with the investigation.
“I don’t know anything about that specifically. I only heard about Nassau,” he said.
A spokesman for the mayor’s office said the allegations were not true.
Singh also outlined the fraud he committed to further his bribery schemes. He confessed to committing bank fraud, filing false instruments with banks and municipalities, tampering with public records, offering false instruments for filing, committing insurance and mortgage fraud, filing bad checks, making false statements and scheming with others to defraud.
Singh confessed to underreporting his restaurants’ gross income from 2009 to 2014 and also paid some of his employees off the books, meaning he did not report the complete amount of salaries to the Internal Revenue Service.
“I knew what I was doing was wrong and illegal and I’m profoundly sorry for that,” he said.
Singh has not yet been sentenced. Both Mangano and Venditto have denied wrongdoing. Their trial begins on March 12.
This is disgraceful! Mr. Singh admits to the fact that he hired Linda Mangano to influence “Ed”. Well, what about her resume? What about her expertise in the hospitality industry? What about her overall work ethic? What about it? Oh, foolish me~I forgot, “a resume is just a piece of paper”, an insignificant document…NOT required for “NO-SHOW” JOBS!! This is utterly and completely disgraceful, disappointing and disheartening to all of “US”…the hard-working people of Long Island. Yes, we are the people who have put in “long hours”….day after day….
week after week, month after month, year after year….and worked our
asses off for “our salary”!!!! Better yet, most of us…the majority do NOT
have pensions!!!! Corruption should NOT be congratulated with a pension of any kind! Corruption should be reprimanded with a “Stripping Of That Pension”! Moreover, those corrupt pension funds should be dispersed to all of the people who have been ROBBED by these people…(regardless of when any “new” law went into effect!!) It’s mighty amazing how the “timing” of that “new law” regarding forfeiture of pensions just happened to happen “at the right time”….OMG….and, so much for justice….wow…your timing was perfect “for them”…but, not “for us”. What a shame…what a downright shame for Me and for all of the people on Long Island….what a shame.
By the way, I am the person who was “legitimately” being hired… with resume and referrals in hand…and, who “illegitimately” was replaced by
someone that was used as a “bargaining chip”…”to influence Ed”! Really?? OMG!!! I thought “qualifications” stood for something in this life!! I have close to 40 years in the industry and a wealth of “on the job” experience… and…this is how it all went down. I met with Mr. Singh…on a few occasions…to discuss a managerial position in Banquet Sales. I must say, he was a gentleman…and the meeting was both professional and amicable. He was fully aware of my years in the industry and knew that I would be both an instrumental and integral part of his venue. He was also aware that my work ethic is flawless!
Well, in January, 2010, my “job opportunity” disappeared…I mean,
fell off the charts….almost in a “phantom-like” fashion…for no apparent
reason. After my meetings with Mr. Singh…(or as everyone refers to him…as “Mr.H”)…I knew I had the job…and was delighted to be joining the team of The Woodlands. Well, little did I realize, that was not to be the case. Unfortunately, I did not have the “proper credentials”…in the way of a bargaining chip…to be able to feel powerful…have influence over a person…the old “quid pro quo”…yes, that’s the ticket, for sure. Unfortunate, but true…..unfortunate, but true. How disappointing to think that these government officials do this….and literally watch the most qualified candidates lose out on positions in order to keep their other degenerate cohorts happy…and influenced. Many people are awaiting “entertaining” testimonies at the upcoming trial. Regarding me, I am not looking to be entertained! On the contrary, “there is a time and a place for everything”!! Frankly, this is not my idea of “entertainment”! Rather, this is just “another” presentation of disgrace and sheer disappointment; there isn’t any other way to define it. Too many people are struggling…all over Long Island…
trying to make “ends meet”….each month…to pay their bills…to feed themselves…to live…(and, they are still having difficulty doing so). I have a question…Do these corrupt people find it “entertaining” that many others are really struggling…trying to make “ends meet”…
each month…to pay their bills…to feed themselves…to live?????
Well, the answer is “NO”….the answer is “NO”…they do not care about anyone but themselves….plain and simple…self-serving opportunists in action…pure action! Thank you for listening.
Have a good evening.
Politically speaking, Republican or Democrat, “skating on thin ice” is never recommended. Corruption is as non-partisan as is the “privilege” of voting itself…that is, of course, when one deems it worthy to vote. Thank You.
A “NO-SHOW” Job…is a “paid”position that ostensibly requires the holder to perform duties, but for which no work or even attendance is actually expected. The awarding of “No-Show” Jobs is a form of political or corporate corruption. I have a question…and I am entitled to ask it…
what “DUTIES” did Linda Mangano perform?? By nature, this is a very
simple question. Therefore, by nature, a response should be simple too.
What “DUTIES” did Linda Mangano perform in her “purported vocation” entitled “Food Taster”? The “Executive Chef” is the “Food Taster” of any establishment…(unless, of course, the Executive Chef & Proprietor are one in the same). This fictitious title of “Food Taster” is Non-Existent in the hospitality industry; it’s simply outrageous and most egregious to even think that those, with expertise, would even “DIGEST” this! For, all of us, who have spent our lives in the industry…well, we know, full well, that the “Executive Chef” puts the last of “stamp of approval” on every delectable and glorious dish served!
As Banquet Managers, we conducted “Food Tastings” for the “families”…
who were deciding which venue they would select for their function;
that is referred to as a “Food Tasting”–Solely And Specifically For The Patron! That being said, an explanation for this “fictitious” title of
“food taster” must be substantiated!!! It is incredulous to, in any way,
fathom, that “Linda Mangano” cleaned up $450,000+++ as a
purported “food taster” in a 4-year period! That money that she received was inappropriate, ineligible, shameful, unfit and unsuitable! It SHOULD be mandatory that a RESUME be produced for merit of this $$$$!!! Otherwise, these must be and can only be considered “illegitimate” funds!
If this information cannot be substantiated…well, then, you have your answer. It’s a shame…a downright shame…for all the residents of L.I.
Here’s the best part! Anyone else…any other lovely, qualified person…
(specifically ME)…would have been hired for “HALF” of Linda Mangano’s
salary~and, “Newsflash”~we would have had to Show Up “On The Job” To Perform “A Full Weeks’ Work For A Full Weeks’ Pay”!!! Honestly, I wonder how any of them can look at their neighbors….let alone
themselves. People are struggling…week to week…month to month…
year after year. How could any of you have conducted yourselves in this fashion? How could you? It is not only shameful; it is DEPLORABLE!!!