Jury Acquits Assemblyman of Conspiring to Take Bribes
William F. Boyland Jr., a Democratic assemblyman from one of Brooklyn’s most prominent political families, was acquitted on Thursday of conspiring to take $175,000 in bribes in return for using his influence on behalf of a health care organization that runs hospitals in Queens and Brooklyn.
The trial, in Federal District Court in Manhattan, was the second stemming from a broad corruption indictment issued in March that charged eight people, including Mr. Boyland and a powerful state senator, Carl Kruger, Democrat of Brooklyn, as well health care executives, a lobbyist and others.
One defendant, David P. Rosen, the former chief executive of the health care organization, MediSys, was convicted in September of conspiring to bribe Mr. Boyland — as well as Mr. Kruger and a third politician, Anthony S. Seminerio, a Democratic assemblyman from Queens, in return for favorable treatment for MediSys. Mr. Seminerio, who pleaded guilty to fraud in an earlier case, has since died.
As the verdict was announced by the jury forewoman, there was a shriek from a woman seated with Mr. Boyland’s parents and other supporters. Mr. Boyland sat with his hand on his forehead as one of his lawyers, Michael K. Bachrach, patted his shoulder.
After the verdict was delivered, Mr. Boyland said, “I’m looking forward to getting back to serving as assemblyman for the 55th District.”
His father, William F. Boyland Sr., 71, who served two decades in the Assembly and was succeeded by his son, said, “Justice still reigns.” …