NY State Lawmaker Who Killed Himself Misused $800K

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a state lawmaker diverted about $800,000 from an escrow account for his own use before killing himself in a Rochester cemetery earlier this year.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed Monday, Assemblyman Bill Nojay illegally misdirected funds from a legal client's escrow account to his re-election campaign, a lobbyist, a car dealer and his children.

Authorities say the 59-year-old Republican lawyer also used the funds to pay property taxes on his suburban Pittsford home.

Nojay shot himself Sept. 9 near his family's plot in Riverside Cemetery. His death came just four days before a GOP primary that he wound up winning for what would have been his second term.

Nojay faced a federal wire fraud charge when he killed himself.

The Democrat and Chronicle filed a motion after his suicide to have the criminal complaint released.

[STORY BY: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]