A former hospital executive has pleaded guilty to bribing former a New York state senator, saying he did so to keep his Queens hospital open.
Robert Aquino entered the plea to conspiracy to commit bribery Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan. The 54-year-old Glen Head man said he agreed to make $60,000 in payments to ensure that New York State Sen. Carl Kruger would take actions to keep Parkway Hospital open. Aquino was chief executive officer of the hospital. The effort failed.
Kruger last month pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and resigned his Senate seat. He agreed not to appeal any prison sentence up to 11 years and three months. Aquino could face up to five years in prison. Sentencing was set for May 3.
Copyright The Associated Press
