Bernard Kerik Guilty Plea

Former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded guilty to eight charges in a White Plains courtroom on Thursday morning. He admitted to eight felonies, including lying about paying taxes on his children's nanny, hiding income from the Internal Revenue Service and faking a charitable contribution.

The case related to accusations that he lied to the White House as they did a background check on him for a nomination to be Homeland Security secretary.

Kerik made a false statement to aides of President George W. Bush. At the time, Bush had picked Kerik to run the department established in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

During an interview, Kerik denied having any financial dealings with contractors seeking to do business with the city. But prosecutors say contractors spent more than $255,000 renovating his apartment.

The pleas could send him to prison for around 2 1/2 years.

A federal grand jury had indicted Kerik on 16 counts including conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and lying to the IRS. Authorities say that over a six-year period, from 1999 through 2004, Kerik failed to report more than $500,000 in income.

Kerik faced up to 140 years in prison if convicted of corruption and fraud charges. The first of three trials was to begin Monday.