Harendra Singh, key witness in ex-Nassau exec Edward Mangano's case, to surrender to federal prison in November
Harendra Singh appears at his sentencing at the Alfonse D’Amato Federal Coaurthouse in Central Islip in July. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Harendra Singh, the former restaurateur who was the key government witness in the corruption trials against ex-Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his wife, Linda, will not report to prison to begin his sentence for another six months, court records show.
Singh, 65, who pleaded guilty as part of a cooperation agreement in 2016 to charges including conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and honest services wire fraud, was granted a second extension to surrender earlier this month, weeks before he was most recently expected to report.
The Laurel Hollow resident, who was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack to four years in prison in July and was first ordered to surrender in January, will now have until Nov. 22 under what the judge termed a “final extension.”
Officials have not explained why the extensions have been requested. A letter making the initial request for a delay, which was filed by Singh’s former attorney, Anthony La Pinta, of Hauppuage, is under seal.
His new attorney, Nicholas J. Pinto, of Manhattan, made an appearance on his behalf April 26, but Azrack merely referenced that the second extension was granted in “ consideration of sealed exhibits.”
Pinto did not respond to requests for comment this week. La Pinta declined to comment, saying he no longer represents Singh.
Singh testified that he bribed Ed Mangano with a $450,000 “no-show” job for his wife, two luxury chairs, flooring for his and his wife’s Bethpage bedroom, free meals and vacations and a $7,300 watch for one of his sons in exchange for Mangano influencing Oyster Bay Town officials to authorize the town to serve as an indirect guarantor for what amounted to $20 million in loans for Singh. He wanted the funds to make improvements to several seaside eateries he operated in the town.
Edward Mangano, 62, is serving a 12-year prison sentence in Massachusetts and is slated to be released on March 8, 2032, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. He was convicted in 2019 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.
Linda Mangano, 61, served five months of a 15-month prison sentence for her conviction of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and two counts of lying to the FBI as part of the scheme. Their first trial on the same charges ended in a mistrial.
An appeal of the Manganos’ convictions was heard in February, with a decision still pending, court records show.
Singh’s guilty plea was part of a cooperation agreement with the government for fraud related to the Town of Oyster Bay loan scheme and a nearly $1 million fraudulent claim to FEMA that the Water’s Edge, a Queens catering hall he owned, was damaged during Superstorm Sandy. He also pleaded guilty to obstructing and impeding the due administration of Internal Revenue Service laws.
In addition to bribing Mangano and then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was not accused of any wrongdoing, Singh admitted bribing several other Oyster Bay Town officials, including former deputy town attorney Frederick Mei, who was sentenced to two years in prison on corruption-related charges on the same day that Singh was sentenced.
Singh bribed Mei with $70,000 in cash and gifts between 2010 and 2012, according to prosecutors, to ensure that the town guaranteed Singh’s loans. Singh also paid Mei’s $36,000 lease for his BMW and for several vacations, including to South Korea.
Mei, 65, is housed in USP Lewisburg, a medium-security federal prison in Pennsylvania, according to the Bureau of Prisons. He is scheduled to be released Sept. 5, 2025.
Harendra Singh, the former restaurateur who was the key government witness in the corruption trials against ex-Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his wife, Linda, will not report to prison to begin his sentence for another six months, court records show.
Singh, 65, who pleaded guilty as part of a cooperation agreement in 2016 to charges including conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and honest services wire fraud, was granted a second extension to surrender earlier this month, weeks before he was most recently expected to report.
The Laurel Hollow resident, who was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack to four years in prison in July and was first ordered to surrender in January, will now have until Nov. 22 under what the judge termed a “final extension.”
Officials have not explained why the extensions have been requested. A letter making the initial request for a delay, which was filed by Singh’s former attorney, Anthony La Pinta, of Hauppuage, is under seal.
His new attorney, Nicholas J. Pinto, of Manhattan, made an appearance on his behalf April 26, but Azrack merely referenced that the second extension was granted in “ consideration of sealed exhibits.”
Pinto did not respond to requests for comment this week. La Pinta declined to comment, saying he no longer represents Singh.
Singh testified that he bribed Ed Mangano with a $450,000 “no-show” job for his wife, two luxury chairs, flooring for his and his wife’s Bethpage bedroom, free meals and vacations and a $7,300 watch for one of his sons in exchange for Mangano influencing Oyster Bay Town officials to authorize the town to serve as an indirect guarantor for what amounted to $20 million in loans for Singh. He wanted the funds to make improvements to several seaside eateries he operated in the town.
Former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his wife, Linda, leave federal court in Central Islip after sentencing on April 14, 2022. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Edward Mangano, 62, is serving a 12-year prison sentence in Massachusetts and is slated to be released on March 8, 2032, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. He was convicted in 2019 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.
Linda Mangano, 61, served five months of a 15-month prison sentence for her conviction of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and two counts of lying to the FBI as part of the scheme. Their first trial on the same charges ended in a mistrial.
An appeal of the Manganos’ convictions was heard in February, with a decision still pending, court records show.
Singh’s guilty plea was part of a cooperation agreement with the government for fraud related to the Town of Oyster Bay loan scheme and a nearly $1 million fraudulent claim to FEMA that the Water’s Edge, a Queens catering hall he owned, was damaged during Superstorm Sandy. He also pleaded guilty to obstructing and impeding the due administration of Internal Revenue Service laws.
In addition to bribing Mangano and then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was not accused of any wrongdoing, Singh admitted bribing several other Oyster Bay Town officials, including former deputy town attorney Frederick Mei, who was sentenced to two years in prison on corruption-related charges on the same day that Singh was sentenced.
Singh bribed Mei with $70,000 in cash and gifts between 2010 and 2012, according to prosecutors, to ensure that the town guaranteed Singh’s loans. Singh also paid Mei’s $36,000 lease for his BMW and for several vacations, including to South Korea.
Mei, 65, is housed in USP Lewisburg, a medium-security federal prison in Pennsylvania, according to the Bureau of Prisons. He is scheduled to be released Sept. 5, 2025.
Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.
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