New York, NY —
A former New York City Department of Correction Chief has been charged with using his official position to organize dozens of subordinates to work on Governor Pataki's 2002 political campaign. Word of the indictment comes a month after WNYC aired an investigative series on the Rikers political operation. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein reports.
In 2002, Anthony Serra held the second highest ranking uniformed job on Rikers Island . At the same time, he collected nearly a quarter of a million dollars to work on the Pataki re-election campaign. It was mixing the two that was a no-no, according to Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson.
Johnson: Anthony Serra misused Department of Correction employees and resources for political purposes, he misused his position in the doc and his time on the clock his actions caused num subs to take days off of work which placed a strain on the D.O.C. and Rikers island.
According to the 146-count indictment, Serra and three other employees worked on the clock to organize dozens of subordinates to volunteer on the election. The employees were convinced to put in for vacation on primary day, and to spend the time monitoring poll activity for Governor Pataki.
The indictment was limited to work performed for the Pataki re-election campaign, but correction employees told WNYC the operation had been going on for years. Former deputy warden Ed Gavin said he was approached by a Serra associate while he was gassing up his car near the jail.
Gavin: He came up to me and he said listen he said um why don't you come out and help us with the Republican campaign we can really use you.
Gavin said he knew many employees who were working on the poll watching operation, and was curious what they did. So he agreed.
Gavin: I got there at like six in the morning and I worked like a, like very, very hard that day.
In the 2002 campaign, the indictment says Serra solicited requested, commanded, importuned 47 subordinates to perform activities in support of Governor Pataki's political campaigns. D.A. Johnson said that's against the law.
Johnson: These individuals reacted to his position because he was a chief in Rikers island it was inappropriate for him to ask subordinates to perform a function for other than dept purposes.
The indictment names each of the 47 employees, ranking from warden on down. Johnson was asked how such a wide-ranging enterprise could have eluded Serra's bosses - the Chief of Department and the Correction Commissioner.
Johnson: 17 you know I live in the real world and I understand your question very clearly and what we deal with is what evidentiary proof we can bring before a grand jury.
As for the Pataki campaign, Johnson said that organization is accused of no wrong doing and in fact was a victim. Serra allegedly lied to campaign officials, telling them he was paying the correction employees with campaign funds. This isn't the first indictment of Serra that's come from the Bronx District Attorney. A year and half ago, Johnson charged Serra with using on duty correction employees to renovate the bathroom and kitchen of his Putnam county home. Johnson insisted the length of time it took to make out the current charges had to do with the complexity of the case.
Hofstra University Professor Eric Lane was director of the New York city charter revision commission. He wrote many of the conflict of interest laws Serra is now accused of violating. He said he was surprised Serra wasn't charged with them earlier, but is glad he's now being called to account.
Lane: If these allegations are true calling people up and telling them they're in trouble or there's a problem for them if they don't do some political It's pretty terrible.
A spokeswoman for Governor Pataki and a spokesman for the City Department of Correction declined to comment, citing the ongoing criminal investigation. In a Bronx courtroom on Thursday, Serra pleaded not guilty. For WNYC, I'm Andrea Bernstein.