NY comptroller sues Aldus Equity over Dallas firm’s role in pay-to-play scandal

NY comptroller sues firm in pay-to-play scandal

NEW YORK — New York state’s comptroller is suing a company accused of paying illegal kickbacks in exchange for a big investment from the state pension fund.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli filed the suit Wednesday in Albany as part of his effort to sever all ties with the Dallas firm, Aldus Equity Partners.

The attorney general filed criminal charges last month against Aldus managing partner Saul Meyer.

Prosecutors say Meyer helped Aldus get a $175 million investment from the state pension fund by paying $300,000 to Hank Morris, a political aide to former comptroller Alan Hevesi.

A spokesman for the company did not immediately return a message about the lawsuit. The company has previously said it did nothing wrong.