Former NYPD Commissioner Kerik Pleads Guilty

On Friday, June 30,2006, former NYPD police commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded guilty to accepting tens of thousands in gifts while he was a top city official.

Although sparred jail time, Kerik will have to pay $221,000 in fines due to his guilty pleas to misdemeanors.

Previously, the top New York City cop denied wrongdoing that he accepted gifts but changed his story in state Supreme Court in the Bronx, confirming acceptance of $165,000 worth of renovations. Compounding this plea, is that this company also allegedly favored with contract assistance by Kerik, Interstate Industrial Corp., were court papers seeking to revoke the company's license to work on Atlantic City casinos. These papers by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, cited that the company owners were associates of the Gambino crime family.

In 2004, Kerik withdrew from the appointment of President Bush for the homeland security secretary, acknowledging non payment of taxes for a family nanny.

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Saint Barnabas Corporation's $265 Million Defraud Settlement

The Department of Justice stated that Saint Barnabas Corporation, the largest health care system in New Jersey and second largest employer in the state, has agreed to pay the United States $265 million to settle allegations that it defrauded the federal Medicare program.

"Dishonesty, avarice and greed are expressive of an epidemic of corruption throughout all facets of American life."

Read American Leadership Issues: Crisis and Response

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