Sources Reporting Pedro Espada Legal Fees Being Paid By Charity He Fleeced

This is Pedro Espada we're talking about here. Nothing would be beyond him. After all, he's claimed that the FBI and law enforcement were using black magic to secure convictions against him and his son (the jury did find him guilty on four charges that could send him away for up to 40 years, but mistrials were declared on the remaining counts against him and his son).

Sources are indicating that Soundview Healthcare Network is picking up the legal bill for his defense to the tune of up to $1.5 million.

Not only did convicted ex-state Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., treat the Soundview Healthcare Network as his personal piggy bank — he also made the taxpayer-funded clinic pay for his defense team, The Post has learned.

The financially crippled Bronx medical charity that Espada founded — and from which he was convicted this week of stealing nearly $500,000 — has forked over an estimated $1 million to $1.5 million more to pay for the thieving pol’s lawyers, sources told The Post.

“Soundview has been paying for his criminal defense,” a source said of Espada’s fees for his lead defense lawyer, Susan Necheles, and her assistants.

That's at a time when Soundview is turning away more and more of its clients and is finding a cash crunch due to the state and federal government turning off the Medicare spigot.

Normally, Soundview would tap an insurance policy to cover legal suits by its officials, but the insurance company refused to authorize the coverage because of the claims involved so Soundview officials (including Espada's relatives) took it upon themselves to pony up the funds for his defense. Don't count on any of that money getting reimbursed down the road either.