Percoco must go-go to prison

A corrupt former aide to Gov. Cuomo was ordered Friday to report to federal prison March 1.

Joseph Percoco lost his argument that he should be free on bail pending appeal. Manhattan federal Judge Valerie Caproni said in a 54-page decision that Percoco must begin his sentence because his appeal did not raise a “substantial question of law or fact.”

Caproni rejected Percoco’s arguments that he should remain on bail pending appeal, writing in a 54-page decision that his case did not raise a “substantial question of law or fact.”

Percoco was convicted of accepting over $300,000 in bribes, which he referred to as “ziti.” The money came from two upstate businesses — a Hudson Valley energy firm, Competitive Power Ventures, and a Syracuse real estate developer, COR Development.

Steve Aiello, the former president of COR Development, must start serving his sentence the same day, Caproni wrote. Aiello was convicted of bribery conspiracy in the case.

Percoco, 49, was one of Cuomo’s closest friends and wielded major influence in Albany. As the governor’s executive deputy secretary, he implemented Cuomo’s agenda and oversaw logistics of critical initiatives.

Publicly, Cuomo did not rue Percoco’s conviction. “The rule of law is paramount,” he said after he was sentenced. “Joe Percoco is paying the price for violating the public trust.”