Yet another New York legislator involved in three fraudulent schemes, in two countries, two before his death, and one after...

Apparently, Dean Skelos and Sheldon Silver were not the latest New York legislators who were charged with fraud.

Meet Columbia Law School-educated New York Assemblyman William Nojay, who, as of today, is listed as "registered" by the New York State attorney registration website.

Of course, you will not be able to meet Bill Nojay any more. 

Because he is dead.

Committed suicide on the grave of his parents last week.

Just before he was about to be charged by the feds for the disappearance of $1.8 million from a trust fund "of his longtime client and friend".

I was wondering though - what was it to shoot yourself for?

The New York's 4th Department considers grand theft of client funds from a lawyer's account not to be such a big deal - just express remorse and you will be slapped on the wrist with notmore than a year's suspension.  It is not criticism of a judge, after all - then you would have been suspended for longer or disbarred.

And, even if charged, and even if convicted, like Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos were, all courts up to the highest, will bend over backwards to invent reasons not to put you in prison and to create precedents for you to give you an opportunity to undo the conviction on appeal and to give you a gift of restitution payment plan to allow you to earn interest on the stolen funds faster than you pay the restitution for stealing those funds.

So, Bill Nojay just over-reacted over two trifles - a criminal charge for $1.8 million in the U.S. and a criminal charge for theft of $1 million in a rice-export operation in Cambodia where Nojay, together with his business partners, allegedly obtained an investment from a wealthy Cambodian and then closed down the company.

Probably, was easy to obtain the investment, too, using Nojay's credentials as a Columbia-educated lawyer and a New York State Legislator.

What can I say.

Poor guy.

Weak nerves.  He could have done so much better.

But - guess what?

Fraud related to Nojay did not even stop with his death.

The voters were not properly informed of his death, and actually voted for Nojay in the primary after his death.

And, the voters were not informed of his death when voting deliberately - so that his party could simply have a replacement of Nojay, but keep his seat and numbers in the Assembly.

See how simple fraud is in New York? 

Just get yourself into some high office - and then opportunities open to you will be limitless.

The only requirement for committing fraud in New York and escaping unscathed for a well-connected attorney is - good nerves. 

Bill Nojay did not have that.  Poor guy.