Federal prosecutors on Friday dropped bribery and fraud charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, citing the death of a cooperating witness against the Democrat who the governor had once chosen to be her second-in-command.

The move comes after a key witness, real estate developer Gerald Migdol, died before the bribery and wire fraud case could be brought to trial.

Prosecutors said they could no longer prove the case, after the real estate developer accused of bribing Benjamin died.

Brian Benjamin had been accused of funneling state money to a real estate developer in exchange for campaign contributions. A key witness in the case has died.

New York's former lieutenant governor no longer faces federal charges of bribery and fraud. Barry Stein had ignored symptoms that started appearing in 1995, until he was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer.

Federal prosecutors are dropping a corruption case against former New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin. The Democratic politician faced bribery and wire