Shortly after former State Senator Vincent Leibell pleaded guilty to charges of Tax Evasion and Obstruction of Justice charges, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara said "This is a sad day for the citizens of Putnam County and a scene that has become all-too-familiar in New York State."

Said Bharara, "Leibell has only himself to blame for the fact that, after 28 years in public office, this conviction will now be the capstone of that career," adding, "He will be the latest in a long line of public officials who have placed themselves above the law.

Former State Senator Vincent Leibell has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and tax evasion charges this morning in Federal Court in White Plains.

Leibellis free after posting $100,000 bail. He faces up to 24 months in prison when he's sentenced March 7.

During his court proceeding today, Leibell admitted he filed false tax returns between 2003 and 2006 and did not report $43,000 in earnings.

He also pled guilty to trying to influence a grand jury that had been investigating corruption charges in Putnam County.

Leibell resigned suddenly from the State Senate last week and announced he would not be sworn in as Putnam County Executive in January. Leibell defeated Putnam County Legislator Mary Ellen Odell in November for the seat being vacated by longtime Putnam County Executive Robert Bondi.

The Putnam County Legislature must now appoint an interim County Executive, who some speculate may be Bondi, and a special election could be held next November.

Former State Senator Vincent Leibell is  due in Federal Court in White Plains Monday where he's expected to plead guilty to corruption charges.

Last week, Leibell announced he will not take the oath of office as the new Putnam County Executive come January.  He did not give a reason. Leibell also suddenly resigned from his State Senate Seat.

Leibell was spotted in White Plains on Friday where sources say he was working out details of a planned plea bargain agreement in which he will serve two years in prison in exchange for his guilty plea on money laundering, bribery and tax evasion charges.

Leibell is due in Federal Court in White Plains  at 9:30 for what officials say is a proceeding relating to a public corruption matter. A news conference is slated for 12 noon.

Federal investigators were in Putnam County on at least two occasions this year. One was  to serve a subpoena  on the Town of Carmel seeking records related to legal services provided by the law firm Servino, Santangelo and Randazzo which had offices in Carmel, White Plains and Hawthorne. It later reformed with attorney Anthony Mangone as a partner.

Saying he will be the "Worst nightmare that the status quo of Albany has ever seen," Assemblyman  Greg Ball tonight claimed victory in the 40th District  State Senate race, defeating Somers Town Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy for the Republican nod.

Speaking in Croton Falls, Ball said "I take tonight's victory as an endorsement of my platform, to really reform Albany from top to bottom, cap property taxes, freeze school taxes for seniors. But really it's more than that, it's an indictment of the Albany insiders; their negative campaigning and really their fixation on the politics of personal destruction."

Murphy was nominated by the Republican Party as the candidate in the race. Ball made it to the primary after garnering enough signatures to get him on the ballot.

Ball will face Democratic Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz for the Senate Seat in the November election.

The seat was vacated by Vincent Leibell who was elected Tuesday night as Putnam County Executive, defeating challenger, Putnam County Legislator Mary Ellen Odell.

Accusations are flying in a hotly contested State Senate race.

A former girlfriend of Assemblyman Greg Ball spoke out Thursday against a recent mailing that depicts Ball as physically abusive towards women. Specifically, the flyer references an alleged incident in which a waitress in Albany accused Ball of groping her. No criminal charges were ever filed in the matter. The story was reported  in the Albany Times Union and the New York Daily News.  Ball has denied the allegations.

Yorktown resident and 99th Assembly District Candidate Dr. Steven Katz announced a 6 point plan today that he promises to implement if elected to the seat being vacated by Greg Ball.

Former Southeast Town Justice Jim Borkowski announced Wednesday that he is abandoning his bid for the 99th District State Senate Seat that's being vacated by Vincent Leibell and now plans to run for the 40th District State Assembly Seat that's currently held by Greg Ball. Ball is running for the Senate Seat in the 99th District.

Borkowski cited "Party unity" as the reason for switching the race.

Said Borkowski, "Everything is on the line this year. We(Republicans) must take back the New York State Senate." He added, "My participation in a three-way primary will only forestall a strong General Election Campaign to defeat the Democrats, hurting our changes of re-taking the New York State Senate." Republicans Greg Ball and Somers Town Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy remain in the race. Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz is the declared candidate on the Democratic side.