Federal judge delays Linda Mangano's prison surrender
Linda Mangano, wife of former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, leaves federal court in Central Islip after being sentenced to 15 months in prison in April. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
A federal judge has pushed back former Nassau County first lady Linda Mangano’s prison surrender by a month while considering a defense motion for her to stay free during the appeal of her criminal conviction.
Mangano, 59, of Bethpage, won’t have to report to prison to start a 15-month sentence until July 27 instead of June 27, according to an order from U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack.
The judge issued the ruling Thursday after prosecutors from the Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a letter Wednesday that both they and Mangano’s attorney had agreed to the change as they haggle over the bail motion.
Linda Mangano is slated for incarceration in a minimum-security satellite camp at a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, her attorney, John Carman, previously told Newsday.
He declined to comment Friday, as did John Marzulli, a spokesman for prosecutors.
A jury in 2019 convicted Linda Mangano of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and two counts of lying to the FBI.
Jurors found she and her husband, former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, took part in a bribery scheme with politically connected restaurateur Harendra Singh, a longtime family friend.
Singh testified he bribed Edward Mangano with a $454,000 "no-show" job for Linda in his restaurant empire, free meals and vacations, two luxury chairs, hardwood flooring for the couple's bedroom and a $7,300 wristwatch for one of their sons.
The jury convicted the former county executive of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, federal program bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
The panelists found the Manganos conspired to obstruct a grand jury probe by scheming with Singh to fabricate examples of work Linda never did for his business before she lied to federal officials about the work she claimed to have performed.
By their verdict, jurors also found Edward Mangano used his influence to sway Town of Oyster Bay officials into indirectly backing $20 million in loans for Singh, a town concessionaire, after an outside lawyer for the town said that was illegal.
The Manganos staunchly maintain their innocence.
Carman wrote in Linda Mangano's bail motion that she is neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community as someone who “has participated extensively in civil life, public service, and charitable activities.”
The Garden City litigator also cited a COVID-19 resurgence and reasoned that without a bail continuance his client would likely serve her entire prison sentence before her appeal is decided. Linda Mangano is now free on a $500,000 bond.
Prosecutors have to respond to Carman's motion by June 22, before the defense has the option to file a reply by July 13, according to Azrack’s ruling.
The judge previously granted Edward Mangano, 60, a monthlong reprieve for his prison surrender as she decides on a similar defense motion for him to stay free on bail as he appeals his conviction.
The former county executive, who also is free on a $500,000 bond, is currently due to start his incarceration on July 13.
