The taxpayer-funded Bronx health clinic robbed of hundreds of thousands of dollars by ex-State Senator Pedro Espada Jr. is hanging by a thread. Soundview has provided low-cost health care to thousands of South Bronx residents for years, but since Espada and his son Pedro G. have been on trial, it's drastically cut services and even stopped paying the malpractice insurance for its physicians. Fortunately Soundview still has enough cash to pay the Espadas' legal fees! But now the state Department of Health has moved in to shut it down, and it may cease operating completely. more ›

As we noted yesterday, the network of Bronx health clinics pillaged by disgraced ex-State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. are struggling to stay afloat. Since Espada was indicted and put on trial for embezzlement, the non-profit has had to turn away more and more patients—the Times reports today that three-quarters of Soundview's patients are being denied health care. The government has been withholding Medicaid funding to Soundview, and to make matters worse, the clinic is reportedly picking up the tab for Espada's legal fees. more ›

We were worried there for a minute that convicted thief Pedro Espada, Jr. would quickly fade from the public consciousness now that his embezzlement trial is over, taking his crucifix and conspiracy theories with him. But have no fear—the disgraced ex-State Senator from Bronxchester will be haunting the Brooklyn federal courthouse steps for months to come, because sources tell the Wall Street Journal the feds are expected to prosecute Espada all over again on the four federal counts on which a jury couldn't agree. more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] Bronx Democrat Pedro Espada, Jr. has been found guilty on at least four counts of theft, reports Capital Tonight. Toward the end of last week, the jury asked the judge if they could submit a partial verdict in the embezzlement trial of Espada and his son Pedro, who are accused of siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars out of Espada Jr.'s non-profit health clinic to pay for their lavish lifestyle. Jurors have gone back to deliberating on the other charges of embezzlement and three counts of conspiracy. . more ›

The jury is still agonizing over the fate of disgraced ex-state Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. and his son Pedro G. They're accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from a nonprofit health network in the Bronx that Espada founded and funneled taxpayer money into before he lost his Senate seat amid a widening corruption scandal. The jury has sent notes to the judge insisting they're deadlocked, informing him that jurors are screaming and cursing at each other. But Espada says there's a simple explanation for the jury's consternation: black magic. more ›

The specter of a mistrial looms in the juicy embezzlement trial of disgraced ex-State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., who's accused of funneling taxpayer dollars into a non-profit health clinic he operates, and then using clinic funds to finance a lavish lifestyle in Westchester. During three days of deliberations, the juries sent multiple notes to the judge reporting extreme consternation among the jurors, and at one point judge Frederic Block told the courtroom, "There seems to be some turbulence or screaming and stuff like that in the jury room." Hey wait a minute, Pedro's not supposed to be in there! more ›

We've known that former Bronx State Senator Pedro Espada loves to (allegedly) eat $100,000 in meals by using public money from his publicly-funded health clinic, Soundview Health Clinic. Last month, federal prosecutors said that Espada and his family spent about $60,000 on sushi and lobster and finally the NY Post has broken out Pedro's Picks For Publicly-Funded Family Dinners. more ›

The disclosures in the embezzlement trial of disgraced State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. just keeps getting more Pedriculous. In yesterday's testimony, it emerged that the the Bronxchester Senator submitted receipts to the nonprofit Soundview Health Clinic so that he could be reimbursed $697 for a new picket fence outside his Westchester dream home. To be fair, it is a pretty sweet fence—the Daily News has a photo of it. But here are a few other noteworthy items Espada submitted receipts for: more ›

The Soundview Health Clinic run by former State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. was running low on medical supplies while the disgraced Bronxchester politician spent over $500,000 of Soundview money to pay for his lavish lifestyle, a former clinic employee testified yesterday. "We were constantly running low on medical supplies,” Maria Dolores Cruz, one of three original employees of the Soundview Health Care Network, testified yesterday at Espada's embezzlement trial. "The patients would come in to get their dentures and their dentures would not be there.” Meanwhile, Espada was allegedly raiding the non-profit's coffers to cover this laundry-list of luxuries: more ›

The corruption trial of disgraced former State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. and his son, "Pedro G.," finally kicked off yesterday in Federal District Court in Brooklyn. In her opening remarks, prosecutor Carolyn Pokorny unloaded on the Bronxchester pol, telling the jury Espada stole "more than half a million dollars from a public charity" and used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle which included extravagant meals, spa trips, luxury cars, vacations—including "sixty thousand dollars on sushi and lobster." Espada "even went out and tried to buy a Bentley," Pokorny alleged. more ›

The troubles keep coming for deposed Bronxchester State Senator Pedro Espada Jr.. On top of those embezzling charges he and his son are facing we can now add two more charges of corruption. But remember, to Espada two can be the same as one, so it isn't as bad as it looks. more ›

It's been a while since we've heard from that colorful corrupt clown Pedro Espada, Jr., who was ousted by voters in 2010 amidst allegations that he embezzled more than half a million dollars from the Bronx nonprofit health care network he runs with his son. Yesterday, at last, the drought ended outside the former State Senator's Soundview Clinic, where Espada responded to reports that the state might revoke the clinic's license. This being Espada, the press conference took on operatic tones, with subtle notes of castration and sinister violation. more ›

Since he is no longer a state senator, Pedro Espada Jr. no longer has to keep up the pretense that he actually lived in his old stomping grounds—Espada is selling his Bronx co-op apartment, which caused endless controversy for him, and served as a symbol for his entire failed political career. He'll now be free to burst from the cocoon, and transform into the Mamaroneck-residing disgraced politician facing decades in prison butterfly that he is inside. more ›

It turns out that disgraced former Bronxchester Senator Pedro Espada's autobiography wasn't only about portraying himself as a "hero"—it was also about attacking Eliot Spitzer. According to Donald MacLaren, the ghostwriter whom Espada hired to pen his monomyth, told the Post that Espada wanted to use a sizable chunk of the book to stage a political attack on Spitzer. "There was animosity there. He almost wanted to write a book to defame Spitzer," said MacLaren. more ›

We already heard allegations that disgraced former Bronxchester Senator Pedro Espada embezzled more than half a million dollars from the Bronx nonprofit health care network he ran for personal use, on items such as a $125,000 Bentley, thousands of sushi dinners, and a lavish birthday party replete with petting zoo and pony rides. But now, prosecutors are trying to determine whether Espada also used part of that money to pay a ghostwriter to help write his memoir...in which he'd deny using that money inappropriately. more ›

When we first heard about several prominent former NY lawmakers still receiving their taxpayer-funded pensions, despite criminal convictions, we were shocked at how nonchalant and entitled everyone seemed about it. But yesterday, State Controller Thomas DiNapoli told the News that he plans to publicly push to put an end to these financial shenanigans. "We don't have anything now that's a deterrent. We need to do something to build in some kind of penalty to get people to think twice before they do some of those things," DiNapoli said a day-late and a dollar-short. more ›

Pedro, Pedro, Pedro. Because nothing with the disgraced former State Senator Pedro Espada ever is easy, news comes today that the problem pol went and filed to receive a pension from the state just a day before he and his son were indicted (they've pled not guilty). On the plus side, because he only has eight years in the system under his belt, the elder Espada only stands to get $9,000 a year from the state. Oh, Pedro. more ›

Disgraced former State Senator Pedro Espada and his son Pedro G. Espada were released on $750,00 bail today after pleading not guilty to charges of embezzling more than half a million dollars from the Bronx nonprofit health care network they managed. According to a grand jury indictment returned yesterday, Espada used the non-profit Soundview, which the senator founded 30 years ago, to live a life of semi-luxury and finance his political campaigns. The Times reports that Espada allegedly used some of the money to pay for a lavish birthday party at his Mamaroneck home, replete with petting zoo, pony rides and a videographer. And you already knew about the $20,000 in sushi deliveries, but did you know about the Bentley? more ›

Everyone's favorite Bronxchester, soon-to-be former State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., makes the news twice today. Once because he has finally been charged with stealing from his nonprofit (as expected) and twice because his tone-deafness seems to know no bounds. more ›

With heavy sighs and clenched handkerchiefs, politicians across NY state mourned the loss of former State Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., after Tuesday's humiliating defeat at the hands of upstart Gustavo Rivera. "He was an albatross around all of our necks," said a depressed Sen. Liz Krueger, clearly too overwhelmed by the moment. "What Espada's ethical problems did was put a scarlet letter around anyone in the conference," a Senate official told the Daily News, tears probably streaming down a reddened, blotchy face. more ›

Gustavo Rivera may have trounced soon-to-be FORMER State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada, Jr. by a margin of 62%-32%, but don't think for a second this resounding loss means the end of the Espada dynasty. Like his fellow coup-mate Hiram Monserrate, Espada is vowing to come back with a vengeance. But unlike Monserrate, whose comeback attempt ended last night with another humiliating loss, Espada has the power of LOVE on his side more ›

Last night, Carl Paladino trounced Rick Lazio to win the Republican gubernatorial primary in a big upset. State Senator Eric Schneiderman won the Democratic Attorney General primary. Rep. Charles Rangel and Rep. Carolyn Maloney both fought off challengers and won their Democratic House primaries. And, in another (happy) surprise, State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. conceded to Gustavo Rivera. more ›

If you're a registered Democrat or Republican, you can vote in tomorrow's primary. Besides getting a chance to participate in the democratic (small d) process, you'll also get a chance to come face-to-face with one of the new voting machines—no more old-fashioned lever machines, it's now time for newfangled scanners (time for our own Lizard People vote?). more ›

Would it surprise you to learn that ninety percent of Bronxchester Sen. Pedro Espada Jr.'s campaign cash from the past year comes from outside the Bronx? Since June 2009, Espada has raised $261,000 from individuals and corporations, ninety percent of which ($237,510) came from elsewhere, the Daily News reports. more ›

A former opponent of Pedro Espada Jr. is accusing the Bronxchester Senator of playing dirty on the campaign trail, even after the campaign was over. Waaaaait, someone is accusing Pedro of dirty tricks?? Next you'll be telling us the prospect of an Islamic community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan is the cause of mass controversy! more ›

"Pirate of the Bronx" Pedro Espada is well known for throwing things out, whether it's tailor bills, race cards or petty cash. He's so extremely talented at it, it should come as no shock that he has racked up the most violations for his political litter during this campaign. more ›

Pedro Espada is great at throwing money around, except maybe when it comes to his tailor. So it's no big surprise that after being called out for not reporting any expenditures on his fruit and vegetable giveaway, Espada signed off on a whopping $17,000 check for the produce. more ›

The main challenger to scandal-tarred Bronxchester Senator Pedro Espada Jr. has gotten a big boost. Gustavo Rivera's campaign to unseat Espada has been threatened by another challenger, Daniel Padernacht, a lawyer and member of a Bronx community board who had previously refused calls for him to drop out of the race. On Sunday, Padernacht dropped out, conceding that a three-way race would split the anti-Espada vote in next week's primary. more ›

Where to begin? A State Senator who threw Albany into gridlock for over a month last year, allegedly looted $14 million from his healthcare non-profit, threatened a 70-something blogger, and supposedly stiffed the tailor who makes his $1,200 suits is now telling youths to raise their image by raising their pants. State Senator Pedro Espada has joined fellow Senator Eric Adam's Stop the Sag campaign, according to the Daily Politics. more ›