NY Times claims Skelos is focus of federal investigation

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Dean Skelos and his son, Adam, are the targets of a federal criminal inquiry, according to sources cited by the New York Times.

According to the Times, which published an article late Wednesday night, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has begun presenting evidence to a grand jury to bring an indictment against Skelos and his son. According to anonymous sources cited by the Times, the investigation is focusing on Skelos’s son’s business dealings, implying that Skelos could have used his influence to help his son secure business contracts.

According to the Times' sources, Adam Skelos works for an Arizona-based company called AbTech, which won a contract for storm water work for Nassau County even though it wasn't the low bidder. Part of the investigation is looking into whether Skelos influenced the decision.

"I have and will continue to cooperate with any inquiry," Skelos said in a statement Thursday evening. 

Both Skelos and his son live in Rockville Centre.

Bharara has publicly said that he plans to crack down on public corruption in Albany after Governor Andrew Cuomo disbanded the Moreland Commission last year. Bharara has already brought charges against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. A story by NBC in January said that Skelos was the target of an investigation, but Skelos refuted the claims.

Bharara's office declined to comment.