The New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (“Commission”) today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with a registered lobbyist who retained a law firm which employed the son of former state Senator Thomas Libous during a time period it regularly lobbied the Senator.
Fred Hiffa, formerly of Ostroff, Hiffa, & Associates, Inc., agreed to pay $10,000 to resolve allegations that, in 2006, he violated the gift ban provision of the Lobbying Act. Hiffa agreed that he caused the Ostroff Hiffa Firm to retain and pay $4,166 per month for one year to the law firm of Santangelo, Randazzo & Mangone in order to obtain the legal services of the firm and Matthew Libous. While Matthew Libous was employed at the law firm, Hiffa lobbied Senator Libous, who was Chair of the Transportation Committee, on behalf of his clients.
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New York State
Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government
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Albany, NY 12207