ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- A parole board has refused to release a close associate of ex-New York Comptroller Alan Hevesi from prison just hours after announcing Hevesi won his bid to get out following their convictions in an influence-peddling scandal.
The board says 59-year-old Hank Morris, a once-powerful Democratic political consultant who pleaded guilty to securities fraud, can try again next August.
Morris was sentenced to 1 1-3 to 4 years in prison. He has been denied parole twice.
Morris acknowledged using his ties to Hevesi to get millions of dollars in payouts for himself, channel money to cronies and solicit campaign contributions for Hevesi from firms seeking state pension fund business.
The board cites "a reasonable probability" he would break the law again.
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