Former New York State Senate Leader Joe Bruno Convicted On Two Corruption Counts

Former New York State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R) has been convicted on two counts of wire fraud, the Albany Times-Union reports, connected to charges that he'd used his office to enrich himself through payments for non-existent consultant work.

Bruno, age 80, was acquitted on five counts in the scandal, but was convicted for receiving 11 payments from companies controlled by businessman Jared Abbruzzese.

Bruno was first elected to the state Senate in 1976, became Majority Leader in 1994, and resigned from office in July 2008. He was later indicted in January 2009.