Guy Velella

Guy J. Velella
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 34th district
In office
April 22, 1986 – May 14, 2004
Preceded byJohn D. Calandra
Succeeded byJeffrey D. Klein
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 80th district
In office
January 1, 1973 – December 31, 1982
Preceded byFerdinand J. Mondello
Succeeded byG. Oliver Koppell
Personal details
Born(1944-09-25)September 25, 1944
East Harlem, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 27, 2011(2011-01-27) (aged 66)
Bronx, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materSt. John's University (BA)
Suffolk University (JD)

Guy John Velella (September 25, 1944 – January 27, 2011) was an American Republican politician serving as a New York State Senator from the Bronx.

A political leader, state assemblyman, and state senator for over 30 years, Velella was indicted in 2002 on 25 counts of bribery and conspiracy for allegedly accepting at least $137,000 in exchange for steering public-works contracts to the paying parties.[1] He ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in the fourth degree, a class E felony, admitting that he helped clients obtain business from government agencies, and that the clients paid fees in excess of $10,000 to his father's law firm, in exchange for a year in jail.[2][3] As part of the plea agreement reached with the Manhattan District Attorney, Velella resigned his seat in the State Senate and his position as Chairman of the Bronx County Republican Party. He was also disbarred.[3] He served a total of six months (in two separate stints) of his sentence at Rikers Island.[4]

  1. ^ "Press Release Issued By Manhattan District Attorney (May 9, 2002)" Archived June 16, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "New York Times, State Senator Quits in a Deal Over a Bribery Indictment (May 14, 2002)"
  3. ^ a b "In Re: Guy J. Velella". findlaw.com. Findlaw for Legal Professionals. September 20, 2004. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  4. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (January 28, 2011). "Guy J. Velella, State Senator From Bronx, Dies at 66". New York Times. p. B15. Retrieved 25 August 2016.