Westchester Surrogate's Court's Dastardly Deeds – Part II
by Frank Brady © 2007
Friday, April 6, 2007
After the death of Scarsdale resident Berta Murray, the next owner of
the 88-year-old widow's home turned out to be Westchester Surrogate's
Court employee, court attorney/referee Jody Keltz and her
attorney-husband, Carl Peluso. And as earlier reported, that
Westchester County Surrogate's Court court attorney/referee worked in
the very same court's law department charged with the duty to uphold
the integrity of Berta's affairs.
"It's outrageous that a Surrogate's Court lawyer bought Berta's
house," said an 80-plus-year-old cousin of Berta, and who first
learned in February of this year that Ms. Keltz was a lawyer in the
Westchester Surrogate's Court. "This stinks to high heaven, and I'm
mad. It's just not right, I don't like this at all!" she added.
As a named beneficiary, the cousin was to receive a third of the
house, and she did receive a check and release in the mail but never
an accounting of the financial transactions. "They never gave me
papers with all the figures," and she now asks, "Where did the rest of
the money go?"
In March of 2007, the Inspector General of the New York State Office
of Court Administration began an investigation into the circumstances
as to how the Surrogate court attorney/referee and her
attorney-husband came to own the widow's home in 1988.
In a related inquiry, the 1988 sale of Berta's home at 168 Gaylor
Road, has now become part of an investigation into the executor of
Berta's estate, The Bank of New York.
None of Berta's relatives can figure out how or why the Bank of New
York became the executor of Berta's estate. And they believe the fact
that a Surrogate's Court court attorney/referee employee's purchase
of that home is highly improper.
"The lawyers pulled as fast one," Berta's cousin says. "This is awful."
The FBI has been investigating allegations against the Bank of New
York that they violated terms of a 2005 non-prosecution agreement
where the bank admitted to criminal conduct involving fraud, cover-ups
and money laundering, and paid $38 million to the federal government
in settlement. In March of this year, the dealings surrounding the
ownership of the deceased widow's home was added to the inquiries by
the FBI into the activity of the Bank of New York.
See Related Story dated Wednesday, March 21, 2007:
“Westchester Surrogate's Court's Dastardly Deeds” (Part I)
www.ExposeCorruptCourts.blogspot.com © 2007
This story is really part of the Bank of New York story. They are criminals!!!
ReplyDeletewhy hasn't Jody Keltz been removed in handcuffs? has the Bank of New York fixed it?
ReplyDeleteRead the first part of this and now the second part - how come these people are not in jail with the rest of the crooks?
ReplyDeletePeople have been hurt. The geyser of info is there but people have to believe that there is one law.
ReplyDeleteDo they have any conscience at all?
ReplyDeleteThey have no shame either. They are all big whores!
ReplyDeleteRead both parts of this along with the Bank of New York story. It all boils down to NO ETHICS.
ReplyDeleteWhat else have the felons at the Bank of New York "given" to the people in the Surrogate's Court? Would you believe trips, maybe.
ReplyDeleteWent to an attorney in White Plains for my mother's estate, a few days later he told me that he could not handle it sincere Charley Scott at the Surrogate's Court told him not to take it.
ReplyDeleteKeltz is a skel that belongs in jail.
ReplyDeleteAny more "Judicial Employees" that received a good deal on homes from Estates?
ReplyDeleteThis BITCH should be hung.
ReplyDeleteJudge Scarpino controls legal notices and so do other Judges. Where do they get published and at what cost?
ReplyDeleteThis could not be going on unless the Judges were part of it - see
ReplyDeletenyjail4judges.org
Judge Judith Kaye is accountable.
ReplyDeletePAYOLA
ReplyDeleteBank of New York was the executor of the Murray Estate, they signed the deed over to Jody & Carl. A pathetic performance by a fiduciary and the Surrogate Court.
ReplyDeletethieving arrogance
ReplyDeleteRob DeBella was Scarpino's law secretary for years and was known as his hammer. He is now a county Judge.
ReplyDeleteunderstand Jody is very upset...yeh she got caught, so its a shame.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of legal notices there is something named the Westchester Law Journal. It is the recipient of serious legal notices directed by Judges and no has heard of it or seen it.
ReplyDeleteThe Westchester WHAT Journal, no one has ever heard of it....what's the circulation?
ReplyDeleteThese people work for the State of New York. What is being done about this? Is this yet another cover-up? Judge Judy will not cleanup this scandal? The Feds are the only ones!
ReplyDeletewhat about the Judges?
ReplyDeletesee www.nyjail4judges.org
why is there no accountability?
ReplyDeletethere is big money in legal ads...just ask Spano
ReplyDeleteFolks there are two Surrogate Judges in the Bank of New York DEED business with Jody Keltz. Both Emanuelli and Scarpino have direct knowledge of this criminal matter.
ReplyDeleteThe Judges in Bklyn got caught because the DA went after the corruption. The DA's Office in Westchester doesn't go after anything except a free meal.
ReplyDeleteHave ETHICAL charges been filed against Jody Keltz, both Surrogate Judges and anyone else in the court that was involved? If not; why not???
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS FRAUD!
ReplyDeletea major scandal from my perspective, so what's being done?
ReplyDeleteHow many other real estate 'deals' of this kind have taken place across NY State in all the other courts?
ReplyDeletewould prison orange look good on Jody?
ReplyDeleteAt Bar Assoc. social gathering you always see the BONY guys with the Surrogate people. Remember Rob Di Bella as one of them - a disgusted member of the Bar
ReplyDeleteThe Surrogate Court will be moving very soon from 140 Grand Street to the Court House (17th Floor) wonder how many files will get lost during the move?
ReplyDeletethis is one BIG CESSPOOL
ReplyDeleteJody is upset, her kids have been told that she stole the house, you know how kids are - now they are being shunned - a neighbor
ReplyDeletecomment on previous story said Judge Scarpino worked at Bankers Trust Company, isn't that a clear conflict?
ReplyDeleteThe Murray Estate had to have published legal notices..were they ever printed? Where were they allegedly published and when? Are there affidavits of publication?
ReplyDeleteThis group is beyond ethically challenged they are candidates for incarceration
ReplyDeleteHow can the NY judiciary allow this unspeakable act to occur? Have they no shame?
ReplyDeleteKnow Jody & Carl's kids have attended the schools and they were interested in the Butler Field project (Fields For Kids) but I would never think how they acquired the house.
ReplyDeletewhy hasn't the Attorney General done something on this?
ReplyDeleteThis is ATROCIOUS in the Court of Widows and Orphans. If this is permitted to stand what do they do next - rape the Widows and sell the Orphans for slaves
ReplyDeleteJohn Kelly a paragon of ethics as the Court Clerk of Westchester Surrogate's Court is calling it quits. Word has it that this is in protest to the rampant criminal activities that have recently been exposed and the clashes that resulted. Be Well John
ReplyDeletethis witch should be fired and then disbarred ... take away her license to steal
ReplyDeletewhere will Jody go to play hide-and-go-seek? her place in Rhinebeck or a hideout in New Jersey?
ReplyDeleteI find our blog quite interesting. I am a widow in NYC for over 10 years. I have had to deal with the Surrogate's Court in Manhattan with my husband's estate. I hired a lawyer and I believed everything was going along well. When the Court discovered there was money then the surprise came, I was forced to have a Guardian even though I have managed my own affairs quite well all my life. The lawyer-judges have another way to take money and say it's for your own good. Oh, and they have never produced an Accounting. The tricksters have many tricks in their book. When I have gone to other notably lawyers and showed them the documantation a few have said they don't want to go against the Judge (who is now retired by the way). So what is widow crying out for Justice to do? Who do you go to? The corruption is not just endemic to the Surrogate's Court.
ReplyDeleteJody Keltz a employee of the Unified Court System could not have pulled this off without the collusion of both both A. Emanuelli and A. Scarpino (Surrogate's) among others in the system
ReplyDeleteThese people don't do anything for nothing, they all got their piece
ReplyDeleteI also have experienced the lost file syndrome in Manhattan Surrogate's Court. This is palliative and I'm told there is no known cure.
ReplyDeleteNow Hear This - Michael J. Garcia, US Attorney, this is just one thing you can sink your teeth into here in the Beehive of Corruption... try it you'll like it.
ReplyDeleteThe best disinfectant is sun light!
ReplyDeleteTom Carvel's estate (West. Surrogate's Court) is in today's Journal News. The niece Pam Carvel believes he may have been murdered and wants his remains exhumed. No autopsy was preformed when he died? Did Jody Keltz have anything to do with the Carvel estate?
ReplyDeleteI also have had personal experience with the Manhattan Surrogate's Court. It is a snake pit! I know of another lady that the Queen Surrogate Judge put in Rikers Island because she refused to sign a final accounting that she didn't agree with. The Daily News wrote about this story several years ago. So it's not just Westchester!
ReplyDeletehow long can these elected and non-elected gangsters ignore the cesspool
ReplyDeleteBe advised Surrogate Court records/files will be actively lost/destroyed - Surrogate Court will move this weekend
ReplyDeleteIs the Surrogate's Court moving from 140 Grant St. because of the overwhelming putrid odor?
ReplyDeletewhen they move into the courthouse their distinct putrid odor will blend with the other putrid odors giving them some temporary cover
ReplyDeleteHow much of the funds controlled by the Surrogate's Court are deposited in the Bank of New York?
ReplyDeleteWhat is Jody Keltz doing in the Surrogate Court?
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather left me a trust fund. When I questioned the Fiduciary/Bank, I was told to mind my manners. When I persisted they refused to pay me any money. I was then told to sue and the catch is the Fiduciary/Bank would take the money from my trust fund to pay their lawyers and I would have to pay for my own lawyer, so I would be paying twice to get to my own money. I have not found the Westchester Surrogate's Court a user friendly enviroment.
ReplyDeleteHey Stupid, It's Called CORRUPTION!
ReplyDeletethese individuals are criminals from the top to the bottom
ReplyDeleteThey are also all lawyers, member of the oldest profession in the world
ReplyDeleteA week ago today a party was held on the 8th floor of 140 Grand Street for John Kelly. His integrity with be missed. The question is what law firm will he wind up at?
ReplyDeleteLast week I went to the Manhattan Surrogate's Court and was greeted with a security phalanx that demanded a photo ID just to get into the court. What's next internal passports for citizens like the old Soviet Union and Nazi Germany while the illegals run wild? All this for the Judiciary! I hope they feel safe, I didn't!
ReplyDeleteThe Surrogate Court has been moving this weekend - God Help Us All!
ReplyDeletethe Surrogate's Court has now made the move from 140 Grand to 111 Grove. The question is how many files were "LOST" as part of the cover-ups?
ReplyDeleteThis Keltz story is another example of the STENCH FROM THE BENCH!
ReplyDeleteTwo more PIMPS - JODY & CARL
ReplyDeleteHave Jody & Carl been arrested yet?
ReplyDeleteJody Keltz now has her name on the door of her new office. The recurring question that keeps coming up is what is the Judiciary doing about this court employee (attorney/court referee) and her and her husband's involvement with the Bank of New York?
ReplyDeletePrior to making the move from the palatial offices at 140 Grand Street Jody Keltz repeatedly made decisions involving the Bank of New York with the full and complete knowledge of the Surrogate Judge Scarpino her boss!
So everyone is in on the fix! There must be plenty of cash floating around. Cash talks, everyone walks!
Don't understand why Jody is still working. She should be suspended pending a complete investigation. The problem is who is going to do a fair and honest probe?
ReplyDeleteDuring the week prior to moving Jody Keltz made rulings in a case in which the Bank of New York is a fiduciary. This is the same bank that is a criminal so how can they act in a fidiciary capacity? How does this come to pass, Oh, it easy for the Bank of New York when you sell Jody a house on the cheap. They have a friend and they own her.
ReplyDeleteIf this isn't criminal in nature what is? Jody Keltz work for the NYS Judiciary. What are they going to do and when are they going to do it?
ReplyDeleteUnder the circumstances why is Judge Scarpino letting Keltz make rulings on matters regarding the Bank of New York? Does he have any brains at all?
ReplyDeleteWhy should he care, who's is going to go after him anyway he's a Judge.
ReplyDeleteHave read this blog and the posted comments with great interest. There are some that are very insightful. People obviously know details and facts from the inside. I believe the only way to put out the fires of corruption is for good people to step foward. Good honest people owe no allegiance to these corrupt parasitic things.
ReplyDeleteJody Keltz still has a job at the Westchester Surrogate's Court - Judges Kaye & Scarpino shame on you!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of "shame on you" Don't forget the King of Westchester Corruption....the Admin Judge Nicolai !!
ReplyDeleteso we don't have Jonathan Lippman to kick around anymore (he kissed up and got promoted) but, what did he do about Jody Keltz - nothing.
ReplyDeleteIs Judge Scarpino too busy to deal with the Jody Keltz violation? Why not let the new Chief Administrative Judge deal with this conspicuous ethical violation? She can start the reform on this issue.
ReplyDeleteEver year the current and former Surrogate Judges of NY State have a gathering in May, north of Albany. This year one of the topics was Judge Scarpino's own court attorney Jody Keltz.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone looked at this from the criminal perspective?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Jody Keltz has been questioned about this house situation and by whom? Is she under the protection of Tony (Scarpino) Soprano because of what she knows?
ReplyDeletedmin, but at least Obama kept his promise to represent the " REAL " people who work hard or need a hand getting a leg up,in this country. Keep up the good work Barack and Eric Holder, it is about time the 99% of the people in this country at least get DUE PROCESS!
ReplyDelete