Somber Mood Envelopes Espadaville Following Ex-Senator's Conviction

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The conviction of ex-senator Pedro Espada on four embezzlement charges isn't enough for federal prosecutors.

Sources told CBS 2's Marcia Kramer they'll try him twice more for using money from his Bronx health clinic to live high on the hog.

The Christmas decorations were still up at Espada's Mamaroneck home on Tuesday, but there was no celebrating going on, or talking for that matter.

The ex-senator clammed up after a jury found him guilty of embezzlement -- using his non-profit Soundview Health Clinic as a personal piggy bank for himself, his family and friends.

Maybe the pugnacious former power broker was holding his powder for his future court appearances. There will be a lot of those. Sources said the government plans to retry him and his son, Pedro G. Espada, on the embezzlement and conspiracy charges the jury was unable to agree on. There is also a separate case involving tax evasion charges.

"It's a very somber mood at Soundview right now. However, we are with the senator and support him," said Rachel Fasciani, the health clinic's director of public affairs.

On the day after Espada's conviction Soundview lawyers went to court to try and force the New York State Health Department to give it more money so it won't have to close its doors.

Ironically, given his conviction for looting Soundview for his lavish life style, Espada has charged the state is trying to punish him by withholding funds.

"There would be no problem at Soundview but for the illegal behavior of the Department of Health of the State of New York," Espada said on May 12.

"There has been a very long, long winded, very publicly advertized sentiment against Pedro Espada, Jr. We feel having his trial has not been enough for the state, that they feel they want to knock everything out from underneath him," Fasciani said.

What remains to be seen is what comes first for Espada -- another trial or being sentenced on his embezzlement convictions.

Prosecutors are expected to move quickly to ask Brooklyn Federal Judge Frederic Block to order the re-trial.

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