Mangano-Venditto jury says it 'cannot come to agreement on certain items' after 2 days

<p>Jurors sent a note to the judge late Monday afternoon that read, "We cannot come to an agreement on certain items."</p>

News 12 Staff

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May 21, 2018, 3:33 PM

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Updated 2,167 days ago

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Jurors gathered Monday for the second day of deliberations in the corruption trial of ex-Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, ex-Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Mangano's wife, Linda.

Jurors sent a note to the judge late Monday afternoon that read, "We cannot come to an agreement on certain items." The judge did not ask the jury to elaborate, citing the lateness of the day, but told jurors to sleep on it and return tomorrow to continue deliberations.

The jury had spent Monday morning reading over the transcripts of FBI Agent Laura Spence, whose testimony is potentially key as jurors work to determine if Linda Mangano lied to investigators.

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Prosecutors contend that restaurateur-turned-government witness Harendra Singh received county contracts and town-backed loans in exchange for kickbacks, gifts and a no-show job for Linda Mangano.

The jury also requested this afternoon to review the testimony of Michael Schlenoff and Linda Mills, from the Nassau Office of Procurement, who testified about the so-called "bread and rolls contract." The government has asserted that Ed Mangano used his influence to ensure Singh got a lucrative contract to provide bread and rolls for the Nassau County Jail.

The jury also asked to see the transcripts of testimony from John Maguire and Heather Senti, a pair of former Nassau Office of Emergency Management employees. Their testimony related to a catering contract Singh received in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

Prosecutors say the contracts are proof that Singh received benefits in the form of official action from Mangano in exchange for bribes. The defense argues that Singh received the "bread and rolls" contract after interference from former Nassau presiding officer, the late Peter Schmitt, and not Mangano.

Mangano's attorney also argues that the OEM contract was doled out by state health officials, not the county.

Going by the jury's notes to the judge, they appear to be focused on the contracts that the government contends Singh received from Nassau and Mangano in exchange for kickbacks.