3 ex-Nassau officials convicted in New Cassel corruption case out on bond

Instead of surrendering for incarceration, three former government officials left a Nassau courthouse Friday on six-figure bonds after an appellate judge granted sentence stays during their appeals, authorities said.

Two former county Democratic legislators, Roger Corbin and Patrick Williams, along with Neville Mullings, who headed the North Hempstead Community Development Agency, are facing time behind bars after convictions for their roles in a failed $80 million redevelopment project in New Cassel.

A jury convicted them in 2012 on charges stemming from a 2010 indictment that said they steered the project to a certain developer, sold false exclusivity rights to a bank and stole $150,000 in public funds.

Judge Alan Honorof said at their Tuesday sentencing that power and greed corrupted them. He gave Corbin, 68, of Westbury, 2 to 6 years in prison for bribe-receiving and official misconduct.

Williams, 66, of Uniondale, got a year in jail for conspiracy. Mullings, 73, of Westbury, got 9 months in jail for conspiracy and official misconduct.

All three surrendered their passports to the district attorney's office Friday, part of the conditions set by an appellate judge. Corbin is free on $150,000 bond, and Williams and Mullings are each out on $100,000 bond.

Attorney Douglas Thomas of Hempstead, who was acquitted of related charges in a separate trial, represented Williams in court Friday and told Honorof he was pleased to stand before him "as a fully exonerated member of the bar." Attorney Frederick Brewington of Hempstead said on behalf of Mullings and Corbin that an appellate judge "evaluated the case and appropriately gave . . . these gentlemen the opportunity to fight for justice."

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A spokesman for District Attorney Kathleen Rice said her office had no immediate comment.