Probation Sentence for Lawyer Who Lied to Federal Agent

A lawyer who pleaded guilty to lying to a federal agent in an Eastern District pay-to-play probe of state Senator Carl Kruger, D-Brooklyn, was sentenced yesterday to three years of probation and fined $15,000. According to the charges, attorney Michael Levitis was caught on tape by a government informant arranging a $3,000 payment in exchange for help with an upcoming business inspection. The payment was to be split, with $1,000 going to Mr. Levitis and $2,000 to an aide of Mr. Kruger’s. Mr. Levitis also was recorded as telling the informant that he would have to do a fundraiser for Mr. Kruger, according to the criminal complaint. Mr. Levitis was charged last year with lying to a federal agent for denying that he had ever discussed a fundraiser with the informant. Under federal law, lying to a federal agent is punishable by a maximum five-year prison term.

The Brooklyn probe was upended in March, when the Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office charged Mr. Kruger with accepting bribes to help hospitals in Queens and Brooklyn. Mr. Kruger was never charged in connection with the Levitis episode. Shortly before the Southern District charges against Mr. Kruger became public, Mr. Levitis pleaded guilty to lying to a public official in a deal that would limit his maximum exposure to six months in prison. With the Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s Office not making any recommendation, Judge Allyne R. Ross sentenced Mr. Levitis to probation and a fine.