The corruption trial of Joseph Percoco — Governor Andrew Cuomo's longtime friend and aide — starts this week in a Manhattan federal court. It's one of six high-profile New York corruption cases scheduled for trial in the first half of this year.

Percoco is accused of taking more than $300,000 in bribes from two companies in exchange for favors. Representatives of the companies — an energy firm and a Syracuse developer — are also facing charges in the case.

A former Cuomo aide turned lobbyist, Todd Howe, already pleaded guilty and is cooperating with prosecutors.

The trial kicks off what looks to be another embarrassing year for state leaders. State Senator George Maziarz is scheduled to go on trial in February. Former-Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano is headed to trial in March. Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's retrial is slated for April. The former head of SUNY Polytechnic, Alain Kaloyeros, goes on trial in May. That case sprang from the same investigation that ensnared Percoco. And former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has his retrial scheduled for July.