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Assemblyman William Scarborough Pleads Not Guilty To Grand Larceny, Filing False Campaign Documents

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A longtime state assemblyman from New York City was charged Wednesday with felony counts of using his campaign funds for personal expenses.

William Scarborough, a 68-year-old Queens Democrat, was shackled and wearing a suit Wednesday morning when he pleaded not guilty in Albany County Court to charges of grand larceny and filing false campaign documents.

The 23-count indictment accuses him of taking funds from the Friends of Bill Scarborough campaign committee and spending the money on his personal expenses. It followed an investigation by the state attorney general and comptroller's offices.

The indictment alleged Scarborough took over $40,000 from the campaign account since 2007 in cash, transfers and deposits to his personal bank account and didn't report the actions as required to the Board of Elections.

Scarborough submitted 21 separate filings to the Board of Elections between 2007 and 2014 that did not account for the withdrawals, according to the indictment.

His lawyer, E. Stewart Jones, said Scarborough spent more of his own money on campaign expenses than he's been reimbursed by the campaign. "There was no crime committed here,'' he said, adding that campaign finance is a gray area.

For three straight years, Scarborough claimed more in travel reimbursement than any other legislator, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported. This year, Scarborough dropped to No. 12 on the list.

Assemblyman William Scarborough Pleads Not Guilty To Grand Larceny, Filing False Campaign Documents

Judge Stephen Herrick ordered Scarborough released, saying he didn't believe he was a flight risk. A court conference is scheduled for Oct. 22.

Scarborough also faces an 11-count federal indictment that accuses him of improperly claiming per diem expenses totaling more than $40,000 for travel that allegedly did not happen.

The indictment alleged Scarborough submitted 174 false reimbursement vouchers for per diem expenses, mileage and tolls between January 2009 and December 2012. He's also accused of committing wire fraud relating to communications directing payment of specific false New York State Travel Vouchers to his bank account.

The assemblyman said in March that the FBI raided his home, offices and hotel room in an investigation of his daily expense claims. He said a misunderstanding of the Assembly voucher system led to the investigation.

The state indictment charges Scarborough with two felony counts of grand larceny and 21 felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing. The federal indictment charges him with four counts of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds and seven counts of wire fraud.

If convicted on all charges, Scarborough faces up to 37 years in prison.

A spokesman for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman declined to say whether there are similar criminal investigations underway of other legislators' campaign finances.

Scarborough has been in office since 1994. He chairs the Assembly Committee on Small Business.

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