Judge to resentence ex-Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, court notice shows

A Long Island federal judge will resentence former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano on April 15, according to a court notification, just weeks after an appellate court tossed two counts of his public corruption case.

U.S. District Court Judge Joan Azrack directed prosecutors and defense attorneys to submit any additional briefs by April 1.

Prosecutors have promised to argue they believe Mangano’s 12-year sentence should remain in place despite the panel’s decision to toss two counts.

A jury convicted Mangano, 62, in 2019 of conspiracy to obstruct justice for instructing Oyster Bay town officials to indirectly back $20 million in loans for a town concessionaire despite advice to the town from an outside lawyer that the transaction was illegal.

The Republican politician was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, federal program bribery and honest services wire fraud.

Mangano's attorney and federal prosecutors could not immediately be reached for comment.

Federal prosecutors said Mangano directed the town to loan money to restaurateur Harendra Singh, a family friend of the former Nassau executive and his wife, Linda Mangano, who was also convicted in the case.

Edward Mangano is currently serving a 12-year sentence in a federal prison in Massachusetts and would not be eligible for release until 2031, but it’s expected the 92-page ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second District reversing two counts of his conviction would reduce his prison time.

The panel’s rule upheld the conviction of Linda Mangano, who was convicted of two counts of lying to FBI agents, obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice as part of the same crime. She has already served her prison time.

The appeals judges agreed with the former county executive’s appeal that he was not "an agent" of the town and did not have the authority to direct loans.

"The government presented no evidence at trial that Mangano had the authority to act on behalf of the Town, nor that he was an employee or representative of the town," the panel said in its decision.

The U.S. Attorney's Office referred to their previous statement after the appeals court decision.

"The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reaffirmed what a federal jury concluded nearly five years ago: Edward and Linda Mangano created, fostered, and benefited from a culture of corruption in the government of Nassau County," spokesman John Marzulli said. "Linda Mangano’s sentence remains unchanged, and the government will request that the Court reimpose the 12-year sentence Mangano is currently serving on his convictions for honest services fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice."

The jury found the former county executive guilty of accepting $454,000 from Singh for a "no-show" job for Linda Mangano along with free meals, vacations, two luxury cars, hardwood flooring for the couple’s bedroom and a $7,300 wristwatch for the couple’s son.

After they accepted these gifts, the Oyster Bay town officials voted to back loans for the restaurateur to make improvements on the town golf course catering hall in Woodbury and Tobay Beach, where he had the contract to operate the concessions, according to trial evidence.

The former county executive will learn his amended punishment, if any, at 11 a.m. on April 15, according to court records.

With Nicole Fuller