Queens assemblyman charged with 23 felonies

(UPDATES: Arraignment completed and charges filed)

A Queens assemblyman, whose offices were raided by law enforcement in March, was arrested and charged with 23 felonies Wednesday, law enforcement officials said.

Assemb. William Scarborough (D-Jamaica) was arraigned Wednesday in Albany on two felony counts of grand larceny and 21 felony counts of filing a false instrument.

 An indictment filed with the court says the grand larceny charges allege that Scarborough stole money from his own campaign account and spent it on personal expenses, which is illegal. The false instrument charges deal with Scarborough's campaign-finance statements filed with the state Board of Elections.

State officials have scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference in Manhattan to discuss the case.

In March, FBI officials raided Scarborough's offices during the state legislative session.

Scarborough  who has held office for 20 years and is on the ballot in November, said at that time agents questioned him for an hour, alleging he "abused the voucher system" for collecting per diem and travel reimbursements for work in Albany when he may have also been in his Queens district. The investigation is the latest in a series of corruption and sexual-harassment scandals in the State Legislature.

Scarborough told reporters shortly after the raid: "We had an interview. They presented this information. They wanted me to take responsibility for the allegations. They wanted to know if I wanted to enter into some sort of arrangement where I could give them information about any irregularities that I knew of."

He later added: I don't believe I have misrepresented the Assembly and I believe I have acted in accordance with the law. I'm innocent."