Federal prosecutors will be given more time to file an indictment against eight people allegedly involved in a bid-rigging and bribery scandal that rocked state government last month as the state tries to negotiate plea deals with those implicated, including Joe Percoco, a former top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Alain Kaloyeros, the former head of SUNY Polytechnic.
Kaloyeros is accused of taking part in bribery schemes to deliver millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded state contracts to contractors in Central New York and the Buffalo area.
He's facing three counts of restraint of trade and competition, and faces 12 years in prison. He's pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Often called the nano-czar -- Kaloyeros has been lauded for bringing nanotechnology to New York state. In his resignation letter earlier this month, he said plans to remain a professor at the college, although he is currently on unpaid administrative leave.
The court granted a request from prosecutors to extend the deadline to file an idictment to allow for continued plea negotiations by 30 days to November 23 for Kaloyeros and Percoco. Percoco's attorney stated Tuesday evening: "Any suggestion that Mr. Percoco is in plea discussions is unfounded. There have been no such discussions."
Kaloyeros' attorney also said his clinet is not in plea negotiations.