A consultant to former New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi has been sentenced to a 16 to 48 months jail term.
Hank Morris, 57, was sentenced after pleading guilty to directing a ‘pay to play’ scheme.
Morris used his ties to Hevesi to extract kickbacks from companies trying to do business with the state pension fund.
Morris is one of eight people, including Hevesi, to plead guilty to criminal charges in the investigation.
The New York Attorney general’s Office reports that $170 million has been returned to the state and the pension fund from participants in the scheme.
Morris has agreed to return $19 million as part of his plea agreement.
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said “that those who abuse positions of power to line their own pockets will be held accountable by this office”
Morris is also permanently banned from the securities industry in New York State.
In addition, Morris is prohibited from holding any public position or entering into any contractual relationship with the State of New York or any government entity within the state.
He will also lose his license to practice law in New York State.
