Top L.I. pol, wife busted by feds on corrupt raps

NASSAU COUNTY Executive Ed Mangano and his wife were arrested Thursday on corruption charges alleging the Long Island Republican official began selling out his position for bribes and kickbacks as soon as he took office.

The 13-count indictment unsealed in Long Island Federal Court alleges that wealthy businessman Harendra Singh lavished Nassau County’s First Couple with gifts, vacations, home improvements and even a noshow job for Linda Mangano as a food taster at their moneybag’s Water’s Edge restaurant in Queens.

Mangano allegedly returned the favors by showering Singh with lucrative contracts with Nassau County.

Shortly after Mangano became the county’s ranking elected official in January 2010, Singh sought his help obtaining a bank loan guarantee from Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto for a concession to operate a restaurant at the town beach. Venditto is also charged.

“Both of these men undermined the very system of laws they promised to uphold,” said Robert Capers, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Singh is not identified by name in the indictment, but sources confirmed that he is “coconspirator No. 1” and is cooperating with the feds in the investigation.

Singh allegedly sought Mangano’s help obtaining a six-figure contract to supply the Nassau County jail with bread and rolls. Mangano delivered on the deal, but Singh apparently had bitten off more than he could chew and never actually provided bread for the inmates, sources said.

The trio were released on $500,000 bail and are due back in court on Dec. 7.

Singh’s dealing with City Hall is the subject of a separate investigation by the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office.

Singh raised $21,425 for Mayor de Blasio’s 2013 campaign from friends and family. In June 2014, Singh was appointed to the Mayor’s Fund and the Democratic National Committee — even though his restaurant Water’s Edge, located on city-owned land, owes the city $1.2 million.