Witness says Spargo [Maimi-Dade Rioter] Boasted, [Judge] on trial for alleged shakedown of attorneys

[djg21]

Source: Albany Times Union

An Ulster County attorney testified Monday that he felt a chill six years ago when former state Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo allegedly tried to extort $10,000 from him to offset the judge's growing legal fees in a judicial disciplinary case.
. . . .

Spargo was an Albany-area state Supreme Court justice who was thrown off the bench three years ago by a state judicial panel in connection with the same alleged shakedown of lawyers, including Blatchly, who had filed a complaint with the state Commission on Judicial Conduct.

The investigation, which involved court appeals and lengthy hearings, cost Spargo his judge's robes but not his law license. The judicial scrutiny resulted in Spargo accumulating a legal bill that topped $140,000.

Federal prosecutors allege that Spargo, with the help of close friends, turned to attorneys to try and raise money to offset the legal costs, including lawyers who had cases pending before him. On Dec. 10 a federal grand jury in Albany indicted Spargo on two felony counts of attempted extortion and attempted bribery.

The case was brought by prosecutors with the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C., with the help of Albany's FBI office.

. . . .


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=834770

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This clown is a well-known Albany-area elections lawyer. Along with former Rep John Sweeney, who know faces his own legal troubles (http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=831976), Spargo was once of the catalysts of the 2000 Miami Dade Riots. It is interesting that they both have the same criminal attorney.

[Judi Lynn]

1. The guy has some personality problems, doesn't he?

http://www.timesunion.com.nyud.net:8090/Shared/Graphics/NewsDB/0727_spargo_TN.jpg
It will be such a failure if he won't be severely punished.

What a shame he was allowed to operate so freely, intimidating, bullying people this long. What a Republican.

[djg21]

2. He was convicted!

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=835625

He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years.

It's too bad it's a federal conviction. Were it a state conviction he could perhaps share a cell with Mr. Sweeney.

Then again, hopefully he will be able to share a cell with Mr. Cheney instead.