Rob Walker sentencing delayed again

                                                                                     

Robbie Walker

The federal judge overseeing the corruption case of former Nassau Chief County Executive Rob Walker has delayed sentencing again until Dec. 7.

After hearing arguments about "enhancements and relevant conduct," District Court Judge Joan M. Azrack today reserved decision until next month, according to the case docket.

Walker, who was the top deputy for former Republican County Executive Ed Mangano, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in May, 2019 after federal prosecutors accused him of taking $5,000 from an unidentified county contractor , returning the money and then lying about it.

In a sentencing memo, the U.S. Attorney's office asked for a four-year sentence -- more than federal guidelines call for -- ie "enhancements" -- while Walker's attorney, Brian Griffin, requested probation.

In asking for a longer sentence, prosecutors cited "relevant conduct" by Walker unrelated to the actual charge; ie. they cited items mostly from past Newsday stories.

They noted that Mangano's campaign had repaid $250,000 to Walker for charges on his personal credit card between 2012 and 2015. Newsday reported that Mangano's campaign committee in that period had spent tens of thousands of dollars on meals and drink.

The sentencing memo also said that Walker helped his former special assistant set up a consulting company which then received contracts from Friends of Nassau Recreation and the Hicksville Republican Committee, run by Walker. The former assistant deposited about $128,000 in payments and then withdrew $64,000 in cash, the memo said.

Newsday reported that Nassau Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Jacobs had filed numerous complaints with the  Board of Elections about the private consulting company, called KKL Associates, noting it appeared to be "highly suspicious" because the company address was the same as
Walker's former assistant Kristen DiCerbo while KKL had no online presence.

The memo also cited a contract to an unnamed debris removal company. Newsday reported a newly incorporated company, VIP Splash Waterways Recovery Group Inc. of Island Park, was awarded a $12 million pact on the same day in 2014 that the firm gave $2,925 to Walker's Hicksville Republican Committee. 

Walker denied any wrongdoing related to any of those incidents.

Griffin, in a Nov. 15 letter to Azrack,  argued against considering those complaints.

He said Walker was not reimbursed by the Mangano campaign for personal expenses but was "properly reimbursed" for campaign related costs.

Griffin also said that Walker had "no control, ownership or association" with his former special assistant's bank account and said most of the money withdrawn was redeposited into an account without restrictive holding requirements.

Griffin did not reference the VIP Splash contract in his letter to Azrack. But he reiterated that Walker  denied any wrongdoing in those unrelated incidents.

If they are to be considered, Griffin asked for a separate hearing to argue about their relevance to Walker's sentencing.

DOCKET ENTRY:

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Joan M. Azrack: Oral Argument as to Richard Walker held on 11/18/2021. Case called. Counsel present for all sides. Sentencing adjourned to 12/7/2021 at 2:00 PM. Oral argument heard on enhancements and relevant conduct. Decision reserved. (Court Reporter Marie Foley.) (Florio, Lisa)