NEW YORK—A former operative for Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s re-election campaign of 2009 was charged with stealing approximately $1.1 million from the mayor and using some of the money to purchase a house. The operative, Queens Republican John F. Haggerty, pleaded not guilty Monday to grand larceny, falsifying business records, and money laundering.
Haggerty, 41, claimed that he would use more than $1 million for a ballot security and poll watching run through the New York State Independence Party. Instead, Haggerty laundered the money and used the cash for his own personal expenditures, said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. Monday.
Haggerty faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. His lawyer, Raymond Castillo, said that his client is not at fault.
“He was asked to do valid security by the mayor, he did valid security, he was asked to do it through the Independence Party. He did,” said Castillo, according to NY1 News. “Mr. Haggerty did not believe that he was doing anything illegal having it handled by the company that he set up, so we’re optimistic that the courts will agree with that.”
Haggerty currently works for GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, who also sided with him.
“Unlike a typical career politician, Carl Paladino doesn’t throw his friends under the bus. John [Haggerty] joined our campaign just 45 days ago, and he quickly became a part of our family,” said a statement by Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo, according to the New York Times. “He’s a loyal and straightforward man of character. We are satisfied with John’s version of events, and he will remain on our team in his present capacity.”
The district attorney’s office alleged that the Independence Party used no more than $32,000 for the Mayor Bloomberg’s third election.
“Haggerty grossly abused his position within the campaign that trusted him with important matters. At a time when the public is particularly distrusting about our state government processes, his use of a shell company to conceal his involvement from the public simply further breeds cynicism,” said Vance.
Haggerty also worked for the mayor’s second re-election campaign in 2005, as well as for former Gov. George Pataki’s campaign.
Haggerty, 41, claimed that he would use more than $1 million for a ballot security and poll watching run through the New York State Independence Party. Instead, Haggerty laundered the money and used the cash for his own personal expenditures, said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. Monday.
Haggerty faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. His lawyer, Raymond Castillo, said that his client is not at fault.
“He was asked to do valid security by the mayor, he did valid security, he was asked to do it through the Independence Party. He did,” said Castillo, according to NY1 News. “Mr. Haggerty did not believe that he was doing anything illegal having it handled by the company that he set up, so we’re optimistic that the courts will agree with that.”
Haggerty currently works for GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, who also sided with him.
“Unlike a typical career politician, Carl Paladino doesn’t throw his friends under the bus. John [Haggerty] joined our campaign just 45 days ago, and he quickly became a part of our family,” said a statement by Paladino’s campaign manager Michael Caputo, according to the New York Times. “He’s a loyal and straightforward man of character. We are satisfied with John’s version of events, and he will remain on our team in his present capacity.”
The district attorney’s office alleged that the Independence Party used no more than $32,000 for the Mayor Bloomberg’s third election.
“Haggerty grossly abused his position within the campaign that trusted him with important matters. At a time when the public is particularly distrusting about our state government processes, his use of a shell company to conceal his involvement from the public simply further breeds cynicism,” said Vance.
Haggerty also worked for the mayor’s second re-election campaign in 2005, as well as for former Gov. George Pataki’s campaign.
