Poughkeepsie Journal

Today’s scheduled sentencing for a retired quarry salesman who pleaded guilty to two charges connected to the Town of Poughkeepsie corruption scandal has been postponed.

A clerk for federal Judge Colleen McMahon said no new sentencing date has been set for Hyde Park resident Andrew Ceroni. The 71-year-old pleaded guilty last year to perjury and conspiracy to commit extortion charges.

Officials gave no reason for the postponement.

According to court papers, Ceroni’s guilty pleas stemmed from his efforts to solicit payoffs from contractors working in the Town of Poughkeepsie from 1993 to May of 1999.

Ceroni is one of seven people implicated in a three-year state and federal probe into town corruption that also led to the conviction of former Dutchess County Republican Chairman William Paroli Sr.

Ceroni admitted on one occasion he delivered a cash bribe to Paroli in an envelope.

Ceroni also pleaded guilty in September to perjury, admitting he lied before the grand jury investigating Paroli.

The perjury charge carries a maximum of five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The extortion charge carries a maximum of 20 years in jail and fines up to $250,000.