Richard Walker Pleads Guilty To Obstruction Of Justice

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY–Richard "Rob" Walker, the former Chief Deputy County Executive of Nassau County, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in federal court in Central Islip on Wednesday, the United States Department of Justice announced.

The charges are connected to a federal grand jury investigation of a cash payment Walker, 43, of Hicksville, accepted from a contractor while in office. He faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.

Court filings and facts presented at the guilty plea proceeding tell that in 2014, Walker accepted $5,000 from a contractor who was performing work for Nassau County. In 2017, he learned that the United States Attorney’s Office had opened a grand jury investigation into potential corruption in Nassau County government, including the payment he took from the contractor.

Walker then spoke to the contractor several times and tried to persuade him to hide the existence of the payment from the grand jury or provide a false explanation regarding the transaction: for example, the repayment of a loan. Walker met with the contractor at a Hicksville park to hand him an envelope with $5,000 in cash.

"While holding public office, Walker attempted to conceal his corrupt conduct by urging a witness to lie to the grand jury," Richard P. Donoghue, United States attorney for the eastern district of New York, said via press release. "Those who swear an oath to serve the public are expected to promote transparency, not obstruct justice. The Eastern District will hold officials accountable when they violate the public trust."