Alain Kaloyeros has formally resigned his post as SUNY Polytechnic Institute president amid criminal charges.
Often called the nano-czar -- Kaloyeros has been lauded for bringing nanotechnology to New York state. In his resignation letter he said plans to remain a professor at the college, although he is currently on unpaid administrative leave.
Kaloyeros, one of the state's highest paid employees, is facing federal and state charges for alleged bid-rigging and bribery. He was named in a nine-person federal criminal complaint last month.
A statement from his attorney Mike Miller reads:
“Dr. Kaloyeros resigned because he believes that the federal and state prosecutions recently filed against him are an unnecessary distraction for the good people working hard at SUNY Poly. Dr. Kaloyeros is innocent of the charges filed against him and looks forward to being exonerated when the cases have run their course.”
In one of the alleged schemes, Kaloyeros is accused of working with a prominent developer to win bids for a multi-million dollar dormitory project on the SUNY Poly Campus.
According to Scheniderman, Kaloyeros had bid requests written in a way that only Columbia Development could get them.
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.
Kaloyeros founded the College of Nanoscale Science and Technology more than a decade ago, creating a major economic driver for the region and raising his profile around the entire state.
SUNY Chairman H. Carl McCall and Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said in part, "While Dr. Kaloyeros’ service as president has ended, his practices and actions are under our ongoing review.
"In addition, we will continue to cooperate with federal and state prosecutors as their respective investigations continue."