July 10, 2019
| Albany, NY
The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (“Commission”) today announced that it has reached an agreement with a Metropolitan Transit Authority (“MTA”) employee to settle allegations of Public Officers Law violations related to outside activity and income as well as financial disclosure rules.
In the settlement, Gustavo Espinal, a Deputy Superintendent at the New York City Transit Division’s Central Electronic Shop, admitted that over a three-year period, he used State time to conduct personal business related to an outside electronics repair company that he owned. Espinal also admitted to violating the financial disclosure statement (“FDS”) filing rules, including failing to disclose both the employment and the related income in three years of his financial disclosure statements (“FDS”).
A separate resolution between Espinal and the MTA resulted in the loss of approximately $8,500 from a 30-day suspension without pay and Espinal’s divestment in the repair business. As a result, the Commission did not seek an additional financial penalty.
The Commission coordinated with the MTA on an appropriate resolution and thanks the MTA Inspector General for its cooperation.
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The Communications and Public Information Office is the point of contact for the public and members of the press with questions about the Commission's mission and to request access to records such as the financial disclosure statements filed by state officials and employees, the statewide elected officials, members of the Legislature and legislative employees.
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New York State
Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government
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