Former state Sen. Spano admits tax evasion

WHITE PLAINS -- A politician turned lobbyist who was once one of New York's most powerful lawmakers admitted Friday that he underpaid his income taxes by more than $50,000.

Former state Sen. Nicholas Spano pleaded guilty to tax evasion, then apologized outside the federal courthouse in White Plains.

"I acknowledge that I did not pay all the taxes that I should have paid and I'm sorry for that," Spano, 58, said.

The Yonkers Republican spent 28 years in the legislature, rising to assistant majority leader of the State Senate. Popular, affable and barrel-chested, he was renowned for trading favors and bringing benefits to his home district.

Spano will probably lose his right to vote once he's sentenced.

Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, he admitted guilt in a court session that almost immediately followed his arraignment Friday morning.

Spano confessed that between 2000 and 2008 -- a period when he was both in and out of office -- he failed to report rent payments and a real estate commission as income. He also admitted that a corporation he controlled improperly claimed as deductions some consultant fees he collected from an insurance company.

Judge Cathy Seibel said the two sides had agreed that federal guidelines indicate a sentence of 1 to 1 1/2 years in prison. She set sentencing for June 11.

In addition to any time behind bars, the plea agreement indicates Spano will file amended personal and corporate tax returns for the years 2004-08 and pay more than $53,000 in restitution to the federal and state governments. He could also be fined up to $30,000.