NY JUDGE CONVICTED OF EXTORTION, BRIBERY CHARGES

Albany Times Union

Former New York Supreme Court Judge Thomas J. Spargo (above) was convicted Thursday of trying to extort lawyers with cases in his court and solicit a $10,000 bribe, the Albany Times Union reports.

The newspaper described it this way:

“Spargo kept his composure after the verdict, hugging one teary-eyed supporter and smiling in the face of a conviction that will cost him his law license and two fines of $250,000. But the bespectacled lawyer's outlook and distinguished appearance now only contrast allegations the federal government proved in less than a week: That he not-so-subtly tried to shake down personal injury lawyers for tens of thousands of dollars like a common extortionist.”

On the other hand, Spargo’s defense attorney stated:

"This is a sad outcome for someone who was a superb judge, superb lawyer and superb human being Asked why Spargo was convicted, the attorney said, "You'll have to talk to the jury about that."

What do we think?

Superb lawyer and judge--perhaps, but with one tiny flaw: He is a crook. We reserve comment on the human being part.


Related:

Ex-NY Judge Convicted of Trying to Shake Down Lawyers (ABA J)

Former N.Y. Judge Convicted of Attempted Extortion and Soliciting Bribes (Law.com)

‘AWESOME’ DEATH CASE VIDEO FROM SUPREME COURT

This rare SCOTUS video provides an insightful glimpse into how our Supreme Court views capital punishment—via Above the Law.



Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'

LA LAWYER ARRESTED BY FBI IN PERJURY FOR CASH SCHEME

The Tanned-One

Alfred N. Villalobos, Esq.—who may have the most incredible tan in the world—was arrested in Century City after he allegedly agreed to accept $107,000 cash to counsel his client to lie in an upcoming federal grand jury proceeding investigating immigration fraud, the Los Angeles Times blog LA Now reports.

Villalobos, whose tan is said to make George Hamilton look anemic in comparison, was arrested and charged with obstruction of a grand jury proceeding after he accepted more than $50,000 in cash as the first half of his payment in the scheme.

Villalobos allegedly told another attorney that his client would lie about his involvement and knowledge of the case in exchange for the money. But—and this was extremely bad luck for the Tanned-One—the other attorney was already cooperating with the FBI as a confidential informant and was wired for sound when the money changed hands.

According to the State Bar of California, Villalobos—who has been a lawyer since 1997—was suspended for 30 days in 2004 for failing to pay a client’s share of a $14,000 personal injury settlement for over 12 months after Villalobos received the funds.

Villalobos, who had recently relocated to Lake Tahoe, will not be enjoying the good life after all. He will, however, have plenty of time to work on his tan while in federal custody.

It’s something.

Lawyer Arrested for Accepting Cash in Exchange for Promise to Tamper with Grand Jury Witness Testimony (FBI News Release)

JUDGES BEHAVING BADLY: CAUGHT ON CAMERA FLATTENING TIRE IN COURTHOUSE PARKING LOT

(Stock photo—not the actual judge or the actual deflated tire)

The phrase “power corrupts” has become so cliché as to lose its meaning.

But several stories we have recently posted show how some that become anointed with power in our society (e.g. judges) can engage in some despicable petty abuses of power, including the Denver judge who illegally parked in a handicapped parking space, then threatened to have a wheelchair bound lawyer arrested if she did not move out of his way, as well as the Texas judge caught on camera keying a neighbor's car.

We are now less than happy to report a new low in the petty abuse of judicial power: a Maryland Judge who, unhappy that a lowly member of the courthouse staff (who was probably at work before the judge in question was even awake, and often works late hours making it dangerous for her to park further away from the courthouse) snagged an open-to-the-public, but close in parking space, let the air out of the poor working woman's tire—the Washington Post reports.

According to the newspaper:

“Two county sheriff's jail officers said they saw Circuit Court Judge Robert C. Nalley letting the air out of the back right tire of a 2004 Toyota Corolla parked just outside the La Plata courthouse about 3:45 p.m. Monday, according to the two sources.

“One of the officers used his cellphone camera to photograph or videotape the judge, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the probe is ongoing.

***
“Jean Washington, the owner of the Toyota, said in an interview that she had just entered the courthouse for her work shift when a sheriff's deputy alerted her, "Jean, you need to move your car. Judge Nalley's
going to let the air out of it."

"Washington, 51, said she rushed out and moved her car to a different parking lot, farther from the courthouse. When she pulled into another parking spot, another sheriff's deputy told her that her rear passenger tire was flat, Washington said.

""I was just about in tears," Washington said. "I wasn't so upset at the fact my tire was flat -- it was who did it. I'm still in shock."

“The first parking spot has no markers indicating that it or any spot is reserved for Nalley or anyone else, Washington said. She said a sign near those spots says, "Restricted Parking Only."

"Washington said no one had ever told her she could not park in that area, which is a short walk from the courthouse.

“Washington said she prefers to park there because her work shift ends at night, and other parking areas would require her to walk a longer distance to her car.”

If hiz honor is convicted of this petty abuse of power, we do not believe that he should do jail time, but rather community service—cleaning the poor worker’s home and babysitting her kids until he works off his shame.

Then and only then should the MD judicial governing authorities defrock this jerk for willful criminal conduct as well as conduct undermining the public’s confidence in the judiciary.

Now, Judge Nalley, get your shine box.

LAWYER STEALS $100,000 FROM POOR CHILDREN HE WAS APPOINTED TO PROTECT

Memphis Commercial Appeal

This may be a new lawyerly low.

Attorney David Weed was appointed eight years ago by a judge to take control of a corrupt child care program in Memphis where officials had stolen millions of state dollars intended to care for poor children.

Not only did barrister Weed NOT clean up the program, he apparently decided to apply the aphorism “if you can't beat um, join um” by helping himself to $100,000 in government funds Weed held in trust for poor children.

As the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

“The Nashville lawyer was indicted on two counts of official misconduct for allegedly siphoning more than $100,000 from accounts he controlled.

"It was an ironic twist for Weed, who as a court-appointed receiver was responsible for recovering misappropriated assets at Cherokee Children and Family Services, the firm that controlled the purse strings of state-subsidized child care in Memphis.

"Mr. Weed had been entrusted by the state of Tennessee and the courts to safeguard and watch over certain funds," said Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons. "We allege that he misappropriated those funds and violated the trust placed in him."

Weed, 60, was being held in jail late Wednesday on a $10,000 bond and was unavailable for comment.

Unavailable for comment indeed; the are no cell phones in jail. No email either.

Related: Lawyer Accused of Stealing Money He Was Hired to Safeguard (ABA J)

LAWYER, DISBARRED FOR STEALING $300K, STEALS NEARLY $300K FROM NEW JOB

The Daily Record


Gregory P. Luhn, 52, a former tax attorney who was disbarred for stealing $307,000 from his former law firm, got out of jail, and who managed to land a new job with a travel agency, has again embezzled from his employer—this time stealing $267,000 before he got caught.

Luhn admitted to preparing taxes for Custom Travel Incentives and Promotions and instructed Custom's owner to make the checks for the tax obligations payable to Lund, The Daily Record reports.

Luhn, a former corporate and tax law attorney, endorsed the checks and used the money for his own purposes, the newspaper reported.

In 2002 Luhn pleaded guilty to stealing $307,000 from his former Morristown-based law firm, then known as Smith, Luhn & Doran. His partners learned he was stealing around April 1997 and offered to support him if he underwent therapy for gambling but they fired him from the firm when his embezzlement continued.

But the story gets even more outrageous: The latest theft charge is actually the THIRD time that the defrocked former attorney has stolen from an employer. Explains The Daily Record:

“While under investigation for the law firm embezzling, he got a job with a Newark-based health maintenance organization from which he stole $200,000 between June 2000 and July 2001.”

Precisely why, given Luhn’s checkered history with other people’s money, his current employer agreed to make nearly $300,000 in checks earmarked for tax payments out to Luhn personally is not known.

According to The Daily Record article, Luhn is facing a five year prison term.

While Luhn is no Bernie Madoff, we wonder if serving another three years of a five year sentence is going to make much of an impression on this former attorney? Not likely.
.
Related: In ‘Sad But Predictable’ Case, Ex-Lawyer Steals $267K from New Employer (ABA J.)

SAN DIEGO LAWYER SUSPENDED FOR BLOGGING WHILE SERVING ON JURY

California attorney Frank R. Wilson has received a 45 day suspension—for blogging.

Here is the story from the California Bar Journal:

“Wilson was impaneled on a jury hearing a trial in which the defendant faced five felony burglary charges. He had closed his law practice prior to the beginning of the trial and worked for a wireless communication technology firm. He did not disclose during voir dire that he was an
attorney.

“The judge cautioned jurors not to discuss the case both in writing and orally. Nonetheless, Wilson posted an entry on his blog that identified the crimes, the first name of the defendant and the name of the judge, whom he described as “a stern, attentive woman with thin red hair and long, spidery fingers that as a grandkid you probably wouldn’t want snapped at you.”

“He also noted, “Nowhere do I recall the jury instructions mandating I can’t post comments in my blog about the trial. (Ha. Sorry, will do.) So, being careful to not prejudice the rights of the defendant — a stout, unhappy man by the first name of Donald
…”

“Wilson’s action resulted in the court of appeal vacating the judgment in the case and remanding it back to the trial court.”

Wilson’s concealment of his status as a licensed attorney, along with his discussing the ongoing case on his blog in violation of the trial judge’s instructions netted Wilson, 40, an 18 month suspension, stayed, two years of probation with a 45-day actual suspension. Wilson was also ordered to retake the Professional Responsibility Examination within one year.

Read more: Calif. Lawyer Suspended Over Trial Blogging While Serving as Juror (ABA Journal)

DC LAWYER ARRESTED, CALLED “FAGGOT” FOR JOKING ABOUT GATES ARREST

What is it about Police Departments arresting lawyers because they don’t like what they have to say?

This time it was in Washington DC, and the lawyer, Pepin Tuma, 33, was arrested late in the evening on July 26th for disorderly conduct on 17th Street, NW. Tuma was reportedly discussing the Henry Louis Gates, Jr., arrest and jokingly said "I hate the police" while within earshot of a DC police officer, The Washington Blade reports.

The officer pushed Tuma against a transformer box, arrested him and placed him in handcuffs without immediately informing Tuma of the charges.

Tuma told D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier that it was at this time that the arresting officer advised Tuma to "just shut up, faggot."

Meanwhile, back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Cambridge PD has arrested yet another lawyer—not for “disorderly conduct” but for rape.

WBOC-TV is reporting that Cambridge police have arrested a lawyer on an attempted rape charge after an officer allegedly saw him holding a woman down against her will in his law office.

Eckel ran for state Senate in 2002 but lost.

Police say an undercover office on bicycle patrol heard a woman yelling for help early Saturday. Police say the officer went to the rear window of a law office and saw a man on top of a woman lying on a sofa and holding her down against her will.

.
Read more:

Lawyer arrested, called "faggot" by DC cop (Examiner.com)

Gay Man Arrested For Mocking Police Bigotry (Washington City Paper)

Related:

Officer who sent 'jungle-monkey' e-mail: 'I am not a racist' - CNN.com