A jury found three-term Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez guilty Friday morning on charges of bribery and extortion, with Perez facing up to 60 years in prison.
Perez is expected to appeal the verdict, according to the Hartford Courant. It was not immediately apparent whether he would attempt to continue as mayor or resign. The newspaper reported that the city council can remove a mayor if seven of nine council members vote to do so; city council President Pedro Segarra would be appointed to finish Perez”™ term in that scenario.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on five of six counts charged by prosecutors, with the jury clearing him of fabricating evidence. Prosecutors said Perez took a bribe in the form of remodeling for his home, the Courant reported, and said he attempted to extort a payoff on behalf of a political ally.
Eduardo Alberto Perez took an unlikely path to the mayoral office, becoming associated with a Puerto Rican gang in his youth before gaining influence as president of a Hartford neighborhood alliance. He was elected mayor of Hartford in 2001, and Hispanic Business Magazine has cited him as one of the 100 most influential Hispanic leaders.
