Walker sentencing delayed until after election

                                                                                    

Former Nassau chief deputy county executive Rob Walker


One stumbling block to Nassau GOP election prospects was removed today.

A federal court judge delayed the scheduled sentencing of Robbie Walker, chief deputy under former Republican County Executive Ed Mangano, on a federal corruption charge from today to Nov. 18 at the request of his attorney.

Republicans had feared Walker's sentencing on one count of obstruction of justice so close to the election would remind voters of Republican corruption just as they headed to the polls to choose a new district attorney and decide whether to give Democrat County Executive Laura Curran a second term or elect Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman in her place.

Walker was among several Nassau Republicans to be convicted by federal prosecutors over the past four years.

Former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos from Rockville Centre served time after being convicted in 2018 on corruption charges that included pressuring Nassau to approve a $12 million contract for a company that employed his son.

Mangano was convicted in 2019 of taking bribes and kickbacks from former restaurateur Harendra Singh in return for helping the Oyster Bay Town concessionaire received $20 million in loan guarantees from the town.

Mangano and his wife, who was convicted on related charges, have appealed their convictions on the grounds that Singh lied on the stand. Their appeal has yet to be decided and they have not been sentenced.

Walker was charged with accepting $5,000 from an unnamed county contractor, who was a federal informant, and then lying about it. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the charge of lying to the FBI in return for Walker pleading guilty in May 2020 to obstructing justice.

His sentencing was originally scheduled in March, but has been repeatedly adjourned while sentencing statements have remained sealed.

Everyone has a theory as to why the sentencing has been delayed but it's all speculation at this point.

Here is the order from the federal docket:

Full docket text:
ORDER granting [57] Motion to Continue Sentencing as to Richard Walker (1). Sentencing set for 11/18/2021 at 11:00 AM before Judge Joan M. Azrack. Ordered by Judge Joan M. Azrack on 10/18/2021. (Posillico, Lauren)


 

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