Queens Politicians Hall of Shame

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:27 PM EST

City Councilmember and Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate is only the latest in a long line of Queens politicians who have been in trouble with the law. Here are some of the latest examples of Queens elected officials embroiled in scandals.

FBI agents arrested longtime Queens Assemblymember Anthony Seminerio on September 10, 2008 after an investigation found that he allegedly made up a fake consulting company and used it to bilk nearly $1 million in bribes in exchange for actions he took as a New York State legislator. A grand jury indicted him on charges this month.

City Councilmember Dennis Gallagher resigned on Monday, March 17 after he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, admitting that he sexually abused a woman in his office in Middle Village in July of 2007 while he was intoxicated.

On Friday, March 7, the seven-term politician and former head of the New York City Central Labor Council (CLC) Assemblymember Brian McLaughlin pleaded guilty to embezzling $2.2 million in funds from the organizations and people he worked for and served.

State Senator John Sabini pleaded guilty to Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI), on February 5, 2008 which was a lesser offense than the original misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

In December of 2006, former Queens Assemblymember and State Comptroller Alan Hevesi pleaded guilty to a class E felony defrauding the state government by using a state employee as a personal chauffeur for his ailing wife. Hevesi resigned from office on December 23.