Queens pol sentenced to 6 years for fraud

A veteran New York assemblyman was sentenced to 6 years behind bars yesterday on charges he collected $1 million in consulting fees for, in his own words, "doing nothing." Anthony Seminerio, 74, had pleaded guilty last year to defrauding his Queens constituents of honest services.

In a federal courtroom in Manhattan packed with Seminerio's supporters, defense attorney Michael Ross asked a judge to "consider the good things" his client has done in a political career spanning three decades.

He called Seminerio, who represented Queens' 38th District, a "good man" who has "always placed family and friends first." He said more than 300 people wrote to the court asking for leniency.

U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald said she has read all the letters. But she told Seminerio that all the support only shows that "you haven't been honest about the breadth and depth of your criminal conduct."

A mountain of evidence - including more than 15,000 intercepted phone conversations - proved allegations that Seminerio used his bogus consulting firm to shake down a hospital, a college and a lobbying organization, the judge said. She cited a wiretap that captured him saying, "And we don't have to do nothing. I mean, I don't have to do nothing."

She concluded, "You abused the trust that was placed in you."

Seminerio was ordered to forfeit $1 million and to surrender to prison in 30 days. In court papers, the defense had argued that Seminerio should receive home detention.