City Councilman Ruben Wills has been indicted again after a grand-jury investigation. File Photo
A new week, and another elected official in handcuffs.
City Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) on Tuesday was indicted for allegedly filing false documents with the city Conflicts of Interest Board, according to state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
This is the second time Wills has been arrested in the past nine months. Last May, Wills found himself in Schneiderman’s crosshairs for allegedly pocketing thousands of dollars in public campaign funds and charitable grant money for personal benefit. He is still fighting that case.
The latest indictment comes after a grand-jury investigation revealed Wills’ failure to truthfully disclose information as required by city law, Schneiderman said. Elected officials are required to file annual financial disclosure reports in order to provide accountability by public servants and to help ensure that no prohibited conflicts exist between the filer’s official duties and private interests.
Wills has been charged with five counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. The counts relate to the filing of a 2011 annual disclosure report, an amended 2011 annual disclosure report, a 2012 annual disclosure report, an amended 2012 annual disclosure report, and a 2013 annual disclosure report. In each of the filings, according to Schneiderman and DiNapoli, Wills failed to disclose certain financial dealings.
“Submitting false documents to the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board is a serious crime,” Schneiderman said. “My office’s partnership with the comptroller is designed to combat corruption in the public sector, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the public trust is not undercut by public servants who are not truthful in their disclosures.”
If convicted, Wills faces up to one-and-a-third to four years in prison.
By Michael V. Cusenza
