Eight years after public corruption bust, Monserrate pays back $80K restitution fee

AP photo by Mike Groll

By David Brand

Hiram Monserrate, a former state senator from Queens imprisoned for public corruption and again seeking state office, has paid off the nearly $80,000 he owed the federal government as a condition of his sentence, according to court records.

Monserrate, who is running for state Assembly in Queens, was busted in 2012 for steering city council funds to a nonprofit that used the money to fund his senate bid. Monserrate previously served as a city councilmember at the time of the offense. 

Monserrate was required to pay $79,434.49 in restitution to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan. He completed the payment on Feb. 26, according to court records signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gura. 

The public corruption conviction came two years after Monserrate was expelled from the senate based on another criminal offense. Monserrate was convicted of misdemeanor assault in 2009 after he cut his then-girlfriend with a glass, dragged her across a parking lot and drove her to a far-off hospital. Monserrate and the woman said the slashing was an accident. 

Monserrate did not respond to a phone call seeking comment for this story.

He is running against 14-term incumbent Assemblymember Jeff Aubry in the 35th Assembly District, which includes Lefrak City and parts of Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights.