Wedtech Figures Plead Innocent
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-N.Y.) and his wife pleaded not guilty today to charges that they extorted more than $250,000 in bribes in the Wedtech scandal that ended the career of another veteran House Democrat from New York, Mario Biaggi.
U.S. Magistrate Nina Gershon ordered the Garcias released on their own recognizance, but not before they were fingerprinted and their photographs taken. They were indicted Nov. 21 on charges that they extorted $185,100 and jewelry from the now defunct Wedtech Corp., a South Bronx machine shop that became a major defense contractor through a racketeering scheme.
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