Pedro Espada Indicted On Embezzlement Charges

Investigators had been looking into Bronx Democrat Pedro Espada, Jr's misconduct relating to how he operates a nonprofit health care operation for more than a year. Indictments were finally handed down today, and the allegations are pretty serious:

The long-expected indictments came months after Espada – who stalled state government last year when he bolted from the Democratic to Republican party then back again – lost his primary re-election campaign.

Espada and his son, Pedro Gautier Espada, are due in court tomorrow to answer the five embezzlement counts and one count of conspiracy that netted them at least $500,000.

"The indictment alleges that funds that could and should have been applied to purchase medical equipment and enhance health care services for an historically under-served population were diverted by the defendants for their personal use and to benefit friends and family members," said US Attorney Lynch.

The both face more 55 years in prison.

Between 2005 and 2009, Espada and son, used the Soundview Healthcare Center, which received about a $1 million a year in federal funds alone, as their personal piggy bang, federal prosecutors charged.