THE HEZITORIAL: US vs. Sandy Annabi & Zehy Jereis – Justice, Yes; Deterrence, Not Likely By HEZI ARIS
NEW YORK, NY -- November 20, 2012 -- The Honorable Colleen McMahon of the Federal District
Court in Manhattan presided over an emotional sentencing attended by family,
friends, among interested parties in the corruption charges alleged by the
United States against former Yonkers City Councilwoman Sandy Annabi and former
Yonkers City Republican Chairman Zehy Jereis . She was sentenced to 6 years
imprisonment for her “Faustian bargain with Jereis, and he was sentenced to 4
years imprisonment for being found guilty of plying her with gifts the
government asserts is valued at over $200,000 over an almost 6 years time frame
the government suggested were intended to extract a vote of support for the
Ridge Hill Development Project (Developer: Forest City Ratner {FCR}) and the
School 6 Development Project (Developer: Milio Management Corp.).
[Editor’s Note: Ms Annabi was initially against both projects. She switched from being against the Ridge Hill Development Project to being for it. She had worked out an agreement with FCR for the benefit of Yonkers to the tune of almost $10 million. The money has yet to be accounted for by the Yonkers Department of Finance).
Mr. Jereis divulged his infatuation with Ms Annabi as far back as the Summer of 2001 when he first noticed her wearing a blue dress. He was smitten. Judge McMahon described his conduct that of a “sugar daddy” to which Ms Annabi bristled when referring to the Judge’s previous description of him out of the jury’s hearing private comment. Nonetheless, she permitted him to buy her homes, pay for a co-op, lease a Mercedes-Benz, pay off her student loans, pay utility bills and cable bills, and jewelry. To this day, Mr Jereis attests to his affording her gifts from his heart, totally removed from any political motivation.
Corrupt payments, extortion and two conspiracy counts embellished the alleged severity of the crimes ascribed to the defendants.
Before her sentencing, Judge McMahon asked for final summation from government prosecutors Jason Halperin and Perry Carbone.
Ms Annabi stood to serve at minimum 14 years and Mr Jereis at least 11 years.
The government had asked for even greater prison time and restitution. Judge McMahon deciphered the issues, used the algorithms that would serve up the common denominator of years to be served if they conformed to federal jurisdiction. In some cases, Judge McMahon advised that the issue was a New York State Tax concern and not a Federal Tax concern.
Judge McMahon’s responsibility was to dispense justice and infuse deterrence.
Judge McMahon upheld the law, staying within the parameters defined in case law and precedence. Her sentencing process was fair, exact, buttressed by palatable explanation and thought. Judge McMahon was exact in cutting through the drama, the make believe, self-delusion, tricks, scams, deceit and omissions. She took a scalpel to the case and sliced and diced the relevant from the inconsequential. She maintain her focus on the arguments made before her in her court and would not be dragged out of those scenarios by attempted deflection by the prosecution and she said so loudly and clearly.
Was justice served? I tend to believe it was just and fair and lenient to both parties as far as Judge McMahon is concerned though it did not match the lust for greater severity by the government prosecutors.
Ms Annabi’s first legal counsel was William Aronwald, Esq., who poorly advised her to maintain her silence throughout the trial. Only yesterday did she speak through sobs of anguish, self-realization, and self doubt. She said, “I see the errors of my ways. I wish I was not so trusting or naïve… I was starving for attention… someone to take care of me and give me guidance. Now,” she said, “I trust no one!”
Judge McMahon said, “There is no exception to corruption for a hard-knock life. The sad thing is, there is much in your record that is inspiring.”
Justice was leveled. Time will advise if Yonkers is deterred to serve anyone or anything other than their constituents or their conscience.
Deterence will take place when former Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone paysthe $389,000 personal debt owed Yonkers from which the 2011 City Council exonerated him. Deterence will take place when the Yonkers parking Authority pays the $50,000 for which they personally encumbered themselves instead of hoping the City of Yonkers will pay for it. Deterrence will take place when the 31 people who were afforded jobs by the last administration are let go. Deterrence will take place when the Gasboy dispenser is shut down. Deterrence will take place when the Milios are jailed on bribery charges. Deterrence will take place when developers pay their real estate tax arrears, their HUD 108 loans, and are made to abide by the contracts they signed. Deterence will take place when Yonkers recognizes a sheriff has arrived in town. It's time for Inspector General Kitley Covill to take on more issues of concern.
Both defendants have promised to appeal the sentencing within the 10-days time limit. They must each respectively present themselves before the jail facility for the time advised by 2:00 p.m., March 4, 2013.
Bravo to the Federal Judge who saw through the "unrequited love" defense.
She sat with the opponents to Ridge Hill and assured us that she would not vote for the project as it stood. She told us that Yonkers deserved more in taxes than the deal contained. I guess she just wanted to know what we were going to say or do. She must have known all along how she was voting. She didn't realize that she was the one with the public trust and would serve a longer sentence. I am only sorry the Judge did not see fit to give them both the maximum allowable.
Posted by: Onestlee | November 20, 2012 at 18:39
The judge was very fair, and peppered her comments with references to Greek tragedies. The prosecutors kept trying to smear both defendants even more with "information" and the judge would stop them abruptly, saying it was out of the bounds of the case. Her comments about Jereis were interesting, that the letters in support for him showed he did care for "his own" very well, but, she asked, what about everyone beyond "your own?" She emphasized that leadership was about caring for others who are not "your own" and even putting their interests first, ahead of your own. She was an extraordinary judge. She again said that some of the counts against Annabi were not proven, even though there was a jury verdict on the counts. She said there was not one bit of evidence, not even an email, to prove some of the counts, and that she detested the jury verdict. But, the lack of reporting of the gifts from Jereis was serious, as Annabi's constituents deserved to know that she was recieving gifts from the head of the oppositon party. Annabi was overwhelmed with remorse and said she understood very well that reaching for a "sugar daddy" was wrong. She deeply regretted not getting psychological counselling for traumas that made her vulnerable to a "sugar daddy." It's a very sad story indeed, but she has a chance to heal and rebound even stronger and wiser.
Posted by: Sandy's friend | November 20, 2012 at 20:31
Oh give me a fucking break with this "Poor Sandy Sob Story!"
Counseling my ass.
Se got greedy, she got caught, she goes to jail.
End of story.
Posted by: 1980's hair | November 21, 2012 at 05:08
deterence will only take place when a law is put
in place that penalizes any developer who benefits
from a vote that is "purchased" regardless of who
purchases it because the only entity of conseqence receiving a substantial benefit from a changed vote that allows a project to be built is the developer
Posted by: anon | November 21, 2012 at 07:33
Finally some justice in the scandal ridden, lawless, greedy world of Spencer/Amicone government. Now if only the likes of Peterson, Blanchard, Moran, Halevy, Restiano et al could be brought up on charges of the abuse and rape of Yonkers. By some estimates it runs to the tune of $40 million a year in patronage salaries not to mention cars, gasoline, unpaid taxes, water bills and other abuses. That’s $600 million over the course of Spencer and Amicone. We would not have a deficit if it weren’t for these greedy little pigs.
And the current ones are no better. They vote to exonerate Amicone from his personal crimes, lap dancing and first amendment violations. There is Lesnick the biggest pimp with Larkin and all the other little pimpetttes dancing around him. They all said YES; let’s pay poor mayor Amicones crime bill of millions of dollars in legal fees and fines because it will save the taxpayers money. What BS. Not a man with a set on the council.
It’s a sad ending to the Amicone era where all the greedy, guilty will go free. Not just free but millionaires besides and Spano still employees them, Peterson and such. More the fool he.
May Annabi rot in jail and her family live with the shame they have raised and given to the honset citizens.
Posted by: Honest Abe | November 21, 2012 at 07:46
I agree with 1980's hair .... sandy used zehy like most gold diggers from broke families do and you need psychological counseling for that? and sympathy please! give me a break most people who know her see right through her ! Im not saying she deserves 6 years but I feel bad for zehy's poor wife more than sandy .... she has children to take care and wasnt using a married man .... there are many people in this world that come from families where parents were in jail - does that mean its ok to do what she did ?
Posted by: anon | November 21, 2012 at 08:07
excuse me "Abe" but Lesnick and Gronowski voted NOT to indemnify Amicone from the punitive damages the court imposed upon HIM alone and not the taxpayers. They were not supported in this vote.
Posted by: LIONS AND TIGERS AND MAYORS, OH MY | November 21, 2012 at 08:19
Sorry, but allot of people think that Sandy is "HOT". I think she is one of the UGLIEST Women in the City of Yonkers. Looks like she is a Hooker along Riverdale Avenue.
Posted by: Ugley is Worse than UGLY | November 21, 2012 at 16:56
Hello Hezi, From this Hezatorial it sounds like you have been paying attention to the goings on in Yonkers.
Unfortunately most citizens are unawares of this stuff or choose to ignore it. If they only knew what it has been costing them. Oh well, Happy Thanksgiving.
Posted by: threesidesto truth | November 21, 2012 at 21:19
wow, ugley...good to know your priorities in life...
Posted by: LIONS AND TIGERS AND MAYORS, OH MY | November 21, 2012 at 23:15
I think she got off way too lenient in my opinion. If it had been some regular Joe that did this you can be sure they'd throw the book at you for the highest sentence there is for the crime! She didn't care about the citizens of Yonkers, the ONES who unfortunatley voted her in, NO she only cared about her greed. Come on, buying two homes plus a condo, did really need all that? Most folks can't even afford to buy one home and she's got 3, all with dirty money no less! And enough with the "sob story" about her hard upbringing in a tough neighborhood. Well, she didn't grow up in some sheltered country backwoods home up on the boondocks did she!! That alone should tell you that from her "tough" neighborhood where she grew up that she knew exactly what was going on the minute he first offered her the money. You're 42 years old for goodness sakes NOT some young naive 16 year old teenager,(although in these days Im sure they even know it) Im sure her biggest worry right now is HOW will she be able to keep up with her big hair extensions once in jail!! My neighbor next door who is a hairdresser would go to Sandy's apartment on Rumsey plenty of times to add her extensions on, and they weren't cheap mind you!! I remember one time we were suppose to go to a graduation and my neighbor hairdresser was suppose to come also but at the last minute was running around looking for a babysitter because "one of Sandy's strands had fallen out" and she was calling up all hysterical for the hairdresser to get over there to fix it! I told the stylist to just say no to her this time but the stylist said they couldn't because "Sandy pays alot of money" Im sure alot of that cash went for that teased up rats nest she wears on head. Maybe they'll let her wear wigs in jail!!
Posted by: Mackvince33 | November 22, 2012 at 05:27
first of all, there were not three homes...she purchased one for her parents and had a cheap modest co-op on rumsey rd - hardly Trump Tower and slightly bigger than a breadbox. I guess you think it unusual for a young woman to want to live on her own in her own district. But wait, the former Dem party chair claims he and his wife life in two different homes a few blocks away so he can live in his district. That is OK though.
As for hair extensions, I don't know what generation you are from, but they are a pretty routine albeit expensive styling enhancement for women with long hair. MY friend's daughter does it for a living and makes a fortune. They are expensive and becoming commonplace.
These are petty issues you address here. I wish you would get as exorcised over the financial rape and pillaging of the city of yonkers by the previous two administrations, IDAs etc. Phony.
Posted by: unforgiven | November 22, 2012 at 10:21
I dont think we will see a developer penalized, perhaps an individual(another sacrificial lamb).
Ratner already has one of thier own going to jail.
Posted by: threesidesto truth | November 23, 2012 at 07:51
Can't believe that she is playing the victim. Give me a break. We all know that Sugar Daddy wasn't the only guy she soaked. She was the predator not the victim.
Posted by: What a fraud | November 23, 2012 at 21:32
Excuse me but hair extentions are a BIG deal when you're paying for them with other people's money!! AND last I read there was 3 homes, two private residences, and one Co-op. She's a phoney and a disgrace!!
Posted by: Mathew Goldberg | November 24, 2012 at 02:29
The sentences are inverted.
Jereis is the real Spano dirtbag, has done innumerous bad deeds, is mixed up with wiseguys and never did a stitch of good or public service.
A useless and totally unqualified person, but for Nick & Mikey & Lenny puppeteering him, he'd be digging ditches. Was he the Spano bagman? Only time will tell.
He deserves the longer sentence. The Judge was wrong and should have slammed him.
In any event, he's now nothing more than a bad historical footnote in Yonkers. He should never have been anybody of note.
Then again, Spanos have never associated with anyone who's intelligent or competent. They fear those kind of people. Therefore, a person has to be pretty low or crooked to be part of the Spano insiders.
That' exactly what Jereis is - low and crooked and it reflects on the Spanos directly. Mikey should be forced to resign as Mayor.
Posted by: Bye, Bye to a Low & Crooked Man | November 24, 2012 at 07:30
What about Mangone? Are the Spano's still carrying his fat ass
Posted by: who Did it | November 24, 2012 at 17:57
Finally some people who agree on the exsitence of the bag men. These deals were done the old fashioned way, with a paper bag full of fun. That is why the top dogs will not swing.
Posted by: threesidesto truth | November 24, 2012 at 18:07
two down and where is cavallo
Posted by: old to the games | November 25, 2012 at 20:08
He is Father Christmas.
Posted by: Lida | December 11, 2012 at 00:40