USA v. Percoco et al

  1. July 09, 2018

    SUNY Leader 'Precooked' Construction RFPs, Jury Hears

    A politically connected former SUNY president tasked with helping revitalize Buffalo and Syracuse with $600 million worth of tech-hub construction projects became the "chef" of a stew of corruption when he tailored solicitations to fit only his pet construction companies, Manhattan federal prosecutors told a jury Monday on the first day of closing arguments in the trial.

  2. July 02, 2018

    $600M Bid-Rig Trial Lurches Back To Life After Venue Snag

    Federal prosecutors reopened their bid-rigging case Monday against former State University of New York President Alain Kaloyeros and three others accused of fixing $600 million worth of "Buffalo Billion" construction jobs in a highly unusual effort to show a jury that the charges belong in Manhattan federal court.

  3. June 28, 2018

    Mistake Leaves $600M Bid-Rigging Trial At Risk Of Collapse

    The Manhattan U.S. attorney's case against former State University of New York President Alain Kaloyeros and three other men accused of rigging $600 million of "Buffalo Billion" construction bids was in jeopardy Thursday after a federal judge said the government rested without proving a basic element of wire fraud.

  4. June 27, 2018

    'Buffalo Billion' Jury Sees Ex-SUNY Boss' Deleted Emails

    Prosecutors seeking to convict former State University of New York President Alain Kaloyeros of rigging "Buffalo Billion" project bids worth $600 million showed a Manhattan jury evidence Wednesday indicating Kaloyeros deleted emails that discussed the contracting process, and a related investigation, with a convicted former lobbyist.

  5. June 25, 2018

    No Sign Ex-SUNY Prez Knew Of Lobbyist Tips, Witness Admits

    A cooperating witness in the federal corruption case against former State University of New York President Alain Kaloyeros admitted in a Manhattan courtroom Monday that Kaloyeros may not have known that a lobbyist was providing his company with an inside track on real estate and construction opportunities linked to the "Buffalo Billion" economic stimulus program.

  6. June 21, 2018

    'Buffalo Billion' Jury Told $500M Solar Plant Bid Was Fixed

    A once-powerful lobbyist back-channeled with former State University of New York President Alain Kaloyeros in 2013 to tailor a rigged proposal that let construction firm LPCiminelli win a $500 million Buffalo solar factory job, a cooperating witness told federal jurors hearing fraud charges against Kaloyeros and three other men Thursday.

  7. June 18, 2018

    Ex-SUNY Prez Tells Jury He Cut Red Tape For 'Buffalo Billion'

    Former State University of New York President Alain Kaloyeros denied scheming with developers in a fraudulent end-run around the contracting process in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "Buffalo Billion" revitalization effort, telling a Manhattan federal jury Monday his goal was to move nimbly on three projects worth $600 million.

  8. June 14, 2018

    'Buffalo Billion' Defense Denied Subpoena To Jailed Witness

    The Manhattan judge set to oversee the criminal trial of former State University of New York President Alain Kaloyeros and three other men accused of rigging bids in the state's so-called Buffalo Billion revitalization effort turned aside a defense subpoena Thursday that sought information about a jailed cooperating witness.

  9. June 06, 2018

    Cuomo Dough A Sticking Point Before 'Buffalo Billion' Trial

    Prosecutors seeking to put former State University of New York President Alain Kaloyeros behind bars on charges of rigging upstate construction contract bids failed Wednesday to win a judge's permission to use campaign contributions Kaloyeros' co-defendants made to Gov. Andrew Cuomo as evidence at trial.

  10. June 04, 2018

    Dropped Defendant Shows Buffalo Graft Case Hit A Snag

    It was unclear what caused Manhattan federal prosecutors to drop all charges against Buffalo developer Michael Laipple less than a month ahead of a state corruption trial, but experts note the move is highly unusual and indicated the case against him had likely suffered a fatal blow.