Edward and Linda Mangano scheduled to be sentenced today

Former Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and his wife, Linda, are due in federal court in Central Islip today for sentencing on their convictions in a bribery and obstruction of justice case involving a former restaurateur who had been a longtime family friend.

Mangano arrived in court just before 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

"It's a sad day," he said.  "When we come out we'll make a statement."

When asked if he hopes the judge will be lenient, Mangano said, "you can always pray."

Prosecutors have asked U.S. District Judge Joan Azrack to sentence the ex-elected official to 17½ years in prison, saying he sold his power and influence shortly after taking office in 2010 as Nassau’s top government official.

A jury in 2019 found Edward Mangano swayed Town of Oyster Bay officials into indirectly backing what amounted to $20 million in loans for restaurateur Harendra Singh, a town concessionaire, after an outside lawyer for the municipality called such a transaction “a complete sham.”

Prosecutors presented evidence that Singh bribed Edward Mangano with a $454,000 “no-show” job for his wife, free meals and vacations, two luxury chairs, hardwood flooring for the master bedroom in the couple’s Bethpage home and a $7,300 wristwatch for one of their sons.

The jury found Edward Mangano, now 60, 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.

Jurors convicted Linda Mangano, now 59, of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and of two counts of lying to the FBI about her employment with Singh.

Attorney Kevin Keating, who represents Edward Mangano, has asked the judge to show “substantial leniency” when meting out his client’s penalty.

Keating argued in a recent court filing that the former county executive “has lost virtually everything” in the seven years since the federal probe began — including his political career, his law license, his good reputation and most of his assets.

Prosecutors have asked Azrack to sentence Linda Mangano to 2½ years in prison.

But attorney John Carman, who represents Nassau’s former first lady, has asked for a community service sentence for his client, saying she “was swept up in something far bigger than she was” and “has lived in service to others.”

In a court filing Monday, Carman submitted a petition signed by 572 people who also are asking the judge to sentence Linda Mangano to community service.

The petition says the request is justified because Linda has lived a life “defined by kindness and a selfless impulse to help others less fortunate.”

Singh, who testified for six days at the couple’s 2019 trial, was the prosecution’s star witness after pleading guilty to charges that included bribery, conspiracy and tax evasion.

In court, lawyers for the Manganos portrayed Singh as a liar who would say anything to get leniency at his own future sentencing.

The defense also contended that the perks from Singh were gifts from a dear friend and Edward Mangano never took any formal government action in return.

The couple, whose first trial in 2018 ended in a mistrial before a seven-week retrial, maintain their innocence.

With Michael O'Keeffe