Pedro Espada and son face new tax fraud charges

Former New York state Senate Democratic leader Pedro Espada Jr. and his son were hit with new tax fraud charges yesterday in their half-million-dollar health clinic embezzlement case, according to published reports.

Espada Jr., 57, and his son Pedro Gautier Espada, 35, were charged with filing false tax returns in a revised indictment from prosecutors, adding to the previous charges that included conspiracy to commit theft and embezzlement.

They have pleaded not guilty, and jury selection reportedly begins in September.