JUDGE SENTENCED TO JAIL AS FEDS CLOSE IN ON JUDICIAL CORRUPTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 22, 2009 --

Albany New York, December 22, 2009: Former State Supreme Court Judge Thomas Spargo has been sentenced to almost three years in a federal prison for attempting to extort money from attorneys with cases before him. US District Judge Gary L. Sharpe executed the sentence and deemed the jurist's conduct "reprehensible" and set the fine at $75,000. The US Department of Justice's DC public integrity unit had asked for the maximum 44 months. Judge Sharpe did not mince words about the judges actions: "This is extortion," Sharpe continued. "This is threatening people who have appeared before you with adverse harm .... "

Before sentencing, a U.S. Justice Department prosecutor asked the judge to send a message that would lead future potential victims of extortion to come forward. The prosecutor, Senior Trial Attorney Richard Pilger of the Washington, D.C.-based Public Integrity Section, said the crime cut to the cornerstone of the "most fundamentally important part of our government." End Discrimination Now ("END"), a local activist group, has warned about judges abusing their discretion and participating in kick back schemes. "However, most high level jurists today do not solicit cash, they solicit favors. In return they dispense favors, to large corporate law firms who can advance their careers at a future date. The favor that they dispense is usually for the client corporation and the judge's role is to manipulate case facts and law (aka "case fixing") to exculpate the defendant corporation that would otherwise be convicted. In some instances, judges want "in" on part of a large judgment. They may cut a deal with an attorney on "legal fees" for example. But most corrupt judges start out small. It might be a motion granted that should not have been. But they usually escalate to big time extortion or fraud. It's like an addiction", END President Kathryn Jordan stated. A local Albany attorney Kevin Hall sent END the lead.

In 2002, Spargo, a Ulter County judge, faced accusations of ethical violations from the state Commission on Judicial Conduct that were unrelated to his future removal from the bench and criminal case. He was indicted a year ago on charges he attempted to extort attorneys to offset his legal costs.

END (End Discrimination Now) and other activist groups have been pushing for criminal prosecution of corrupt judges for years and escalated the campaign after hearings this summer before the Senate Judiciary Committee revealed widespread abuses by NY judges at all levels and jurisdictions. Commenting on the Spargo conviction, END attested to a "culture of corruption" in the judiciary due to corrupt leadership and a complete lack of regulatory oversight. END President Kathryn Jordan predicts more indictments in 2010. "This is just the tip of a very large iceberg".

"Case fixing, evidence tampering, witness intimidation...these are the "tools" that our Courts in New York deploy on a routine basis. Because the practice has not been punished, it has been accepted and even rewarded. Judges at the highest levels of federal and state court who have fixed cases have been promoted for the same. The situation is so bad that jurists now believe that it is their right to use their judicial powers to intimidate complainants of misconduct, sanction those who object to the use of unlawful threats, and to manipulate evidence and law to their particular political agenda (known as 'case fixing'). The JCC has refused to censure the high level judges. This case shows that the DOJ is serious about cracking down on corruption even in the Judiciary".

The conviction follows the DOJ's announcement that former ex Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno will face conviction and likely imprisonment, along with seizure of $280,000 in assets he unlawfully secured from illicit business dealings with Jared Abburzzese. Prosecutors in that case found Bruno "deprived the public of honest services by using his position as one of New York's most powerful leaders to reap $3.2 million in consulting fees and by failing to disclose conflicts of interest".

Senator John Sampson initiated public hearings this summer which revealed widespread
corruption in the judiciary. Deponents from all over the state attested to corruption at all levels of the Court system and a lack of regulation from the Judicial Conduct Commission or the Departmental Disciplinary Commission. This revelation was followed by the sordid power grab by Senator Espada, who has been linked with a number of questionable business ties, and Senator Monserrate who is the target of an investigation following revelations that he assaulted his girlfriend with a knife, cutting her face, during a domestic dispute.

END intends to publish a "blacklist" of corrupt jurists and lawyers at the beginning of next year and sister orgs like corruptcourts.org, JudgeWatch, and others will continue the citizen based reporting of misconduct. "We cannot rely upon the judiciary to self regulate, so we are assuming this role until they do", Jordan stated. "And everyone will be shocked at how high up the judicial food chain this corruption has manifested itself".

END has called for the resignations of all jurists who have violated the Rules of Judicial Conduct or the Laws of New York in advance of what is expected to be an "unprecedented"
round of impeachments in New York State. "It may be winter, but we are doing spring cleaning", Jordan promised. "These judges have betrayed the trust of the citizens of New York who pay their salaries. The hubris is off the charts".

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=880552#ixzz0aSw43bSA

Http://www.dailynews.com/new/ny_crime/2009
Http://www.enddiscriminationnow.com
Http://www.judgewatch.com
Http://www.corruptcourts.org
Http://www.changecourtsnow.com