Fed corruption probe dashes Jose Peralta’s run for Queens post

New York. – N.Y. State Sen. Jose Peralta will not run for president of Queens County, amid a federal probe into alleged corruption, which the lawmaker has denied.

Peralta said his lawyers verified that the report doesn’t mention him as the target of any investigation into fraud, misappropriation or misuse of funds, while prosecutors have yet to clarify the situation.

The veteran politico was denounced by former senator Shirley Huntley, herself sentenced in May to a year in prison for embezzling US$440,000 from a pension fund and who provided prosecutors with videos allegedly showing Peralta with other legislative colleagues in corrupt actions.

In plea bargaining the former lawmaker obtained a lesser sentence in exchange for cooperation with the investigation.