ALBANY, N.Y. -- President and founder of Columbia Development Joseph Nicolla pleaded not guilty to charges related to alleged bid-rigging Monday morning.
Nicolla made a brief appearance in Albany City Court. He pleaded not guilty to one count of corruption.
He's is accused of working with now suspended SUNY Poly president Alain Kaloyeros to win bids for Columbia Development for a multi-million dollar student housing project on SUNY Poly's campus. The attorney general's office says Kaloyeros had bid requests written in a way that only Columbia would get them.
His lawyer says the prosecution's claims that he conspired with SUNY Poly President Alain Kayoleros in a bid-rigging scheme are completely unfounded.
"These charges are brought without facts to support them. The investigation was incomplete, they don't understand the process. And most importantly, they've extracted info out of context. When all the documents are laid before the attorney General's office and we intend to do that, we believe they will be persuaded to withdrawal these charges,” said E. Stewart Jones, his attorney.
If convicted, Nicolla face up to four years in prison.
Kaloyeros, who is also facing state and federal charges, faces up to 12 years in prison on the state charges.