Federal judge delays Edward Mangano's prison surrender until July 27

A federal judge on Tuesday delayed ex-Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano’s prison surrender by two weeks while considering a defense motion for the former top government official to remain free while he appeals his criminal conviction on corruption charges.

Mangano, who was convicted in 2019 on charges that he received bribes in exchange for influencing Oyster Bay town officials into indirectly guaranteeing $20 million in loans to a restaurateur, had been scheduled to surrender on July 13 to the federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his 12-year sentence.

But U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack extended Mangano’s surrender date until July 27 – the same day his wife, Linda Mangano, who was also convicted in connection to the scheme, is scheduled to begin serving her 15-month prison term. 

The order did not include an explanation of why the judge delayed Mangano’s surrender date. But the judge has not yet ruled on a pending defense request for Mangano to remain free on bail while he appeals his conviction.

Mangano attorney Kevin Keating declined to comment Tuesday. John Marzulli, a spokesman for federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York, also declined to comment.

Mangano, 60, and his wife, Linda Mangano, 59, were convicted during their 2019 jury trial in connection with a bribery scheme involving politically connected restaurateur and longtime family friend Harendra Singh. Their first trial ended in a hung jury and the acquittal of the late Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. 

He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, federal program bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, honest services wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice in connection with a quid-pro-quo scheme that had the then-county executive accepting bribes from the politically connected Singh.

In exchange for the bribes, which included a $454,000 "no-show” job for Linda Mangano, free meals and vacations, two luxury chairs, flooring for the Manganos’ bedroom and a $7,300 watch for one of their sons, the jury found that Edward Mangano used his position to influence Town of Oyster Bay officials into indirectly backing $20 million in loans for Singh, who was also a longtime town concessionaire.

Edward Mangano's attorney has argued that his client should remain free while his conviction is appealed, citing a 2016 Supreme Court case that he says nullifies the guilty findings because Mangano's actions related to the Oyster Bay loan scheme didn't constitute "official action" under the federal bribery statute. He also stressed that Mangano is not a flight risk. 

Prosecutors have called the defense claims a "last-ditch effort" to avoid serving his prison term. 

Linda Mangano was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and two counts of lying to the FBI. She has also requested bail pending appeal. She's slated to serve her time at a minimum-security prison camp in Danbury, Connecticut.

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.