Jim Fitzgerald

Associated Press;

A Monsey real estate developer who became a key informant in the prosecution of three New York City and two Spring Valley politicians was denounced Wednesday as "one of the greatest liars and scammers of all time," a thief without a conscience who is trying to avoid a long prison sentence.

Defense attorneys attacked Moses "Mark" Stern on the first day of the corruption trial of Sen. Malcolm Smith, former City Councilman Daniel Halloran and former Queens Republican leader Vincent Tabone in White Plains. They are accused of scheming to bribe Republican leaders so Smith, a Democrat, could run for the GOP line in last year's mayoral race.

Smith's attorney, Gerald Shargel, told jurors Stern had defrauded Citicorp of $126 million and was looking to "get out from under 455 years in prison." Prosecutors acknowledge Stern pleaded guilty last year to unspecified charges and is hoping to win leniency at sentencing. They used him as an undercover witness in the current case, posing as a moneyman and secretly recording the defendants. "He knew cooperation was the only way out," Shargel said. He said Stern "had no conscience" and with the help of an undercover FBI agent tried to entrap Smith.

Stern's work also was used in the arrests of former Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin and former Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret. The case against Jasmin, who also faces corruption charges, is still pending. Desmaret has pleaded guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and Hobbs Act extortion.