Background
He was born on October 29, 1927, in Albany, New New York
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Richard Schermerhorn
Edit ProfileEducation
He attended Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School and Albany Military Academy. He graduated Master of Business Administration from Bryant University.
Career
During World World War II he served in the United States. Army. He engaged in the insurance business, and entered politics as Republican. In June 1970, he defeated the incumbent State Senator Doctorate. Clinton Dominick III in the Republican primary.
Dominick had voted for the 1970 abortion law, and Schermerhorn was a conservative anti-abortionist.
On July 29, 1987, federal prosecutors accused Schermerhorn of having taken a bribe in 1984 from Dominick Lofaro, an ex-mafioso-turned-informer. The facts were then re-evaluated, and the bribe became a campaign contributions from Lofaro which had not been listed by Schermerhorn in his election campaign financial statement.
Therefore, on September 23, 1988, he was indicted by a federal grand jury for fraud. On November 2, 1988, he was also indicted for tax evasion. and obstruction of justice.
In 1985, he had sold his interest in a hotel, and did not report the capital gain in his tax statement.
On November 8, 1988, he was defeated for re-election by Democrat East. Arthur Gray. Schermerhorn went to trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New New York On October 26, 1989, Schermerhorn was acquitted on the fraud charges, but was convicted of tax evasion.
On December 15, 1989, he was sentenced by Judge Gerard Goettel to a year and a half in jail, and afterwards two years probation.
On July 2, 1991, he was released from Federal Prison Camp, Montgomery, and transferred to the Brooklyn Community Corrections Center. After serving his prison term, he became a lobbyist in Albany.
He died on June 21, 1995, at his home in Newburgh, New York, of throat cancer. And was buried at the Calvary Cemetery in New Windsor.
Membership
He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1971 to 1988, sitting in the 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th, 185th, 186th and 187th New York State Legislatures.
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Born
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Died
June 21, 1995 (aged 67) -
Nationality
United States