Ex-Yonkers city councilwoman charged with accepting bribes to vote for real estate development

NY city councilwoman accused of accepting bribes

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A former Yonkers city councilwoman was accused in a federal indictment Wednesday of accepting bribes in exchange for crucial votes on two real estate developments.

Sandy Annabi, a Democrat who recently left office, accepted a series of lucrative gifts designed to curry her favor on the development deals, according to the indictment. Two others — the former head of the local Republican Party and a lawyer — also were indicted.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said cash payoffs helped Annabi come up with the downpayments on property she was buying and also paid her mortgage, utility and cable TV bills,

Annabi originally opposed the real estate projects, including a $685 million retail development known as Ridge Hill.

But Bharara said Annabi switched her votes under the influence of more than $166,000 in payments arranged by her co-defendants.

“She betrayed Yonkers residents by selling the most important assets any elected official has: her integrity and her independence,” Bharara said.

Annabi’s lawyer, Stacy Richman, said her client is innocent.

Annabi left office days ago when her term expired. She was to be arraigned Wednesday on bribery, corruption and extortion charges. The indictment also said Annabi did not live in the district she represented and filed false tax returns in 2005 and 2006.

In addition, Zehy Jereis, the former head of the Yonkers Republican Party, and Westchester County lawyer Anthony Mangone were indicted.

Prosecutors said one developer funneled a $30,000 cash payment to Annabi to get her support. A second developer promised Jereis a $60,0000-per-year consulting job if Jereis could get Annabi to change her vote on the project.