Who's Who: Political Figures in Federal Corruption Probe

The federal corruption probe unveiled this morning involved a Who's Who of political leaders from New York City and Rockland County.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara said a powerful lawmaker's unchecked ambition to become mayor of the City of New York revealed corruption that affected political dealings in the city and a bogus land deal in the Village of Spring Valley.

At the center of the corruption scandal, according to Bharara, is state Sen. Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, who wanted the Repbulican edorsement to run for mayor of New York City.

Bharara said that as Smith was bent on becoming mayor, his decision was to "bribe himself" on to the ballot.

Smith: He's chairman of the Independent Democratic Conference in the state Senate and represents a district in Queens. He was elected to the Senate in 2000 and has been repeatedly re-elected. He has been Senate minority leader, majority leader, president pro tempore and acting lieutenant governor under former Gov. David Patterson. 

Smith serves on the Senate Transportation Committee and is vice chairman of the Finance Committee.

NYC Councilman Daniel J. Halloran: He was elected to the City Council representing a section of Queens in 2009. A former New York City police officer, Halloran ran for Congress in 2012.

Joseph "Jay" Savino: Chairman of the Bronx County Republican Party. He is an attorney with a firm in White Plains and he has a home in Congers. His hiring by the Town of Clarkstown as outside council to handle property tax court cases sparked controversy in the town, with the appointment coming under scrutiny by local residents who questioned Savino's qualifications. Today, Clarkstown severed its ties with Savino.

Vincent Tabone: Vice Chairman of the Queens County Republican Party. 

Noramie Jasmin: Mayor of Spring Valley. She became mayor in 2009 and was hailed as the first Haitian woman mayor in New York State.

Joseph Desmaret: He has been Spring Valley's deputy mayor since 2009.

Bharara said that one person who definitely was not involved with the corruption scandal was state Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City. The federal criminal complainted unsealed this morning included a section dealing with Spring Valley that made a reference to a state Senator representing Spring Valley. 

The complaint later makes the connection that it was Smith who was connected with the alleged illicit dealings in Spring Valley.