Annabi arrives at court in Mercedes, tells judge she can't afford lawyer

WHITE PLAINS — 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. The developer is being considered a victim of extortion and has not been charged.

Annabi used the money for mortgages, student loans, jewelry, utlility bills and car payments on a higher end Mercedes, the government contends.

Prosecutors did not oppose her motion for assigned counsel but did argue that Annabi should pay something for her legal fees.

"Ms. Annabi has known this day was coming," said Assistant United States Attorney Perry Carbone. "She has made no effort to adjust her lifestyle so she could pay for counsel."

Carbone suggested that Annabi sell one of her two homes — specifically a house at 45 Bacon Place that is not her primary residence. Her monthly mortgage there is $4,242 and she pays $914 a month in mortgage and maintenance for a co-op apartment at 245 Rumsey Road, according to a financial affidavit she filed with the court.

Neither Annabi nor Brody would comment as they left U.S. District Court following the brief hearing.

Annabi, a Democrat, represented Yonkers' 2nd District for eight years until term limits forced her from office at the end of 2009. Knowing that she could not run for a fourth term — but despite the federal investigation hanging over her head — she ran last year for Westchester County legislator, narrowly losing to incumbent Jose Alvarado in the Democratic primary and by a wider margin in the general election.

Read more about this story tomorrow Source: Lohud.com

Posted in: World News