The beleaguered head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute has formally resigned from his post after being placed on leave without pay following criminal charges from state and federal officials.
Alain Kaloyeros, who is accused of helping to engineer bribery and kickback schemes involving state contracts for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s economic development programs, on Monday sent State University officials a letter of resignation from his post as president of SUNY Polytechnic. The letter was first made public Tuesday.
His lawyer said Kaloyeros believes the prosecutions are an “unnecessary distraction” for all the hard-working SUNY Poly employees, and that “Dr. Kaloyeros is innocent of the charges” and looks forward to being eventually exonerated.
Kaloyeros, in his letter, said he intends to remain with SUNY in his position as a full-time tenured professor, with a salary that could be as high as $700,000 a year.
A joint statement from SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and SUNY Board President Carl McCall said SUNY is “evaluating” Kaloyeros’ request to return to his post as professor. They also said that SUNY is “cooperating” with state and federal prosecutors.
Kaloyeros is one of nine people charged in the alleged corruption schemes, including a former top aide to Cuomo and a lobbyist with close ties to the governor.
