« Fighting a Homeless Shelter Closing | Main | In Times article on blight reform, city lawyer recognizes opportunity for "thoughtful change," AKRF relies on Thor's flack »
January 20, 2010
Annabi arrives at court in Mercedes, tells judge she can't afford lawyer
The Journal News
by Jonathan Bandler
A former Yonkers councilwoman charged with taking $166,000 in bribes for her vote on key city projects told a federal judge this afternoon she could not afford to hire a lawyer.
Although she owns two homes, leases a Mercedes-Benz and earns nearly $100,000 a year, Sandy Annabi asked for a court-appointed lawyer. Chief Magistrate Judge George Yanthis granted her request in part - Annabi will be represented by federal public defender Suzanne Brody but will have to pay the reduced rate the government provides beginning in three months.
Annabi, 39, who is free on $400,000 bail, was indicted this month on bribery, extortion and other charges along with her cousin, former Yonkers Republican chairman Zehy Jereis, and lawyer Anthony Mangone. She allegedly switched her vote on two city projects in 2006 — the $600 million Ridge Hill project and the development of two delapidated school buildings — after getting regular payments from Jereis and a $30,000 payoff from the school-project developer that Mangone allegedly arranged.
Posted by eric at January 20, 2010 11:56 AM