Former Hempstead Village housing chair Cornell Bozier gets 10 years for fraud scheme

A federal judge sentenced the Hempstead Village Housing Authority's former chairman to 10 years in prison Monday for fraudulently redirecting nearly $1 million in federal housing funds and collecting $100,000 in bribes.

Judge Joan M. Azrack also ordered Cornell Bozier to pay $576,040 in restitution for what she described as “greed that knew no bounds” when he served as the housing authority chairman from 2011 to 2013, stealing money, the judge added, intended for low-income, disabled and elderly residents.

“His behavior was arrogant and greedy. He should have never been chosen to a position of power. His actions were audacious and had far-reaching consequences,” Azrack said during the sentencing at U.S. District Court in Central Islip.

“A message must be sent,” the judge added as Bozier sat in court with his attorney. “This was a violation of public trust.”

Bozier, 63, of North Bellmore, was convicted in 2019 on a four-felony indictment for taking bribes in exchange for building contracts and steering bids to co-conspirator contractors, using housing authority funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

He had been appointed in 2011 by then-Mayor Wayne Hall to oversee the housing authority, which at the time served about 500 residents and had a budget of more than $6 million.

In several instances, prosecutors presented evidence at trial of Bozier inflating bids for work done at the housing authority, including increasing the price of an intercom system by $50,000.

Prosecutors on Monday said the funds were so depleted that the housing authority was in danger of a federal receivership and was forced to lay off staff, including security guards and exterminators. Remaining funds in the housing authority were used to fix shoddy repairs by Bozier’s chosen contractors after he left, prosecutors said.

“This whole scheme started because of him,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Scotti said in court. “He steered lucrative contracts so he could get kickbacks. He could have stopped it at any time.”

The federal probation department recommended that Bozier serve up to 24 years in prison, while federal prosecutors had sought up to 13 years. 

Scotti said Bozier has shown no remorse or taken responsibility for his actions since his conviction. 

“The sentence has to the reflect the damage he’s done,” Scotti said. 

Bozier’s attorney, Glenn Obedin, had requested probation, asking credit for time served and leniency while Bozier undergoes cancer treatments, according to a presentencing memo.

“This is not the same individual who was sitting at trial,” Obedin told the court Monday. “Circumstances have wholly encompassed his life, and he’s been punished enough.”

Azrack denied Obedin's probation request but cited Bozier’s declining health in handing down the 10-year sentence. Bozier was released on a prior bond of $150,000 and ordered to schedule his surrender within 14 days.

Five co-conspirators, including Stacey Stackhouse, the housing authority's former executive director, and construction consultants, previously pleaded guilty:

• Stackhouse received 1 year of probation and was ordered to pay $4,500 in restitution in April.
• Michael Lambros was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay $342,840 in restitution in May.
• Peter Caras was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay $573,040 in restitution in June.
• James Alimonos was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay $576,040 in restitution in December.
• Demetrious Kaouris was sentenced to 2 years of probation and ordered to pay $40,800 in December 2016.

With Grant Parpan

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.