So, while a Federal Judge upholds criminal charges against a former New York State Supreme Court Judge, Thomas Spargo, and while a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, Public Integrity Unit, calls Albany Surrogate Judge Cathryn M. Doyle a "co-conspirator" in the involved criminal allegations, Tembeckjian and Friedberg appear to have done what they do best: cover-up, whitewash, ignore the outrageous crimes of some judges while nit-picking minor issues. One thing's for sure, Tembeckjian and Friedberg have trampled on a most basic right: due process. and do what they do best: cover-up and whitewash.
Judge upholds Spargo charges
Federal jurist refuses to dismiss attempted bribery, extortion case; will two lawyers testify?
The Albany Times Union by BRENDAN J. LYONS - July 26, 2009
ALBANY, NY -- A judge has upheld the federal criminal charges against former state Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo, who was indicted in December on charges of attempted bribery and attempted extortion. U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Sharpe ruled from the bench in a pre-trial hearing last week that the indictment was sufficient and the case will move forward to trial. The criminal case is built on allegations that Spargo, now in private practice, had in 2003 attempted to extort $10,000 for his legal defense fund from attorneys, including Bruce Blatchly, an Ulster County lawyer who had about 12 cases pending before Spargo. The fund was set up to defray Spargo's $140,000 legal bills from a years-long battle with the state Commission on Judicial Conduct. Spargo, 65, an East Berne attorney, has pleaded not guilty. He is represented by Troy attorney E. Stewart Jones. The state judicial conduct panel concluded three years ago Spargo attempted to extort money from Blatchly. The panel ruled Spargo be removed from the bench and the Court of Appeals later affirmed the decision. During last week's pre-trial hearing attorneys for the government and defense addressed whether two attorneys close to Spargo, Sanford Rosenblum and Catherine Doyle, an Albany Surrogate's Court judge, will testify at Spargo's trial. Rosenblum has invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and declined to cooperate with prosecutors. He did not testify before a grand jury. Spargo's attorneys want Rosenblum to receive immunity from prosecution so that he will testify at trial. He has information that could be ''exculpatory'' to Spargo in the case, they said. Doyle obtained an attorney after being confronted by FBI agents during the investigation of Spargo and later testified in front of the grand jury that indicted him. She did not invoke a Fifth Amendment right. Federal prosecutors said Doyle was not a target of their investigation but that they considered her a ''co-conspirator.'' Her role as a witness at a 2003 luncheon where several attorneys were allegedly solicited for Spargo's legal defense fund is at the heart of their interest in Doyle, said M. Kendall Day, a trial attorney with the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C. ''Both she and Mr. Rosenblum tell a version of events that is inconsistent with the other evidence,'' Day told the judge. ''What else is she doing at this lunch where they're coming to talk about raising money ...'' Prosecutors believe Doyle's involvement centered on the allegation an attorney solicited for a donation had a case pending before her, according to court records. Spargo's trial is tentatively set to begin Aug. 24 in U.S. District Court in Albany.
"Tembeckjian and Friedberg's Alleged Bag of Tricks: Covering-Up Criminal Enterprises, Conspiracy, Tax Fraud, Conversion, Elder Abuse, Money Laundering, Extortion and Bribery..."
Hey Spargo, I'm so proud as a New Yorker that you once sat as a NYS Supreme Court Judge. You, spargo, are a corrupt thug.
ReplyDeleteIs the CJC investigating? Tembeckjian, you know of this now, right? Judge Doyle is an unindicted co-conspirator? It's unethical to participate in another judge's corrupt conduct. What are the odds Judge Doyle will resign or the CJC will remove her?
ReplyDeleteYou have to give Tembeckjian and Friedberg credit for being consistent throughout the state. Widespread, statewide corruption is surely a better way for extended prison time-- over the alternative- less meaningful spotty enforcement of the laws.
ReplyDeleteWhat truly gets me is that these two had the balls to deny due process to decent judges throughout the state of New York-- and their judge friends! Not very smart, boys. You really didn't think that type of activity wouldn't catch up with you?!?!
Tembeckjian and Friedberg would be better to keep their crimes in a federal court. They sure don't want a NYS sentencing judge.
If they ever investigate prove and charge Tembeckjian and Friedberg.
ReplyDeleteMadoff`s 150 years in prison would be a short in comparison.
Message for Mr. Tembeckjian: if a judge or lawyer stays silent when they witness something improper, then they are guilty of various gross ethics violations. Didn't anyone tell you that?!?
ReplyDeleteTembeckjian and Friedberg should resign immediately.
ReplyDeleteif a judge or lawyer stays silent when they witness something improper, then they are guilty of various gross ethics violations
ReplyDeleteis that true, is that why the court records were changed in Niagara County Surrogate, does that mean it was called in or the fix was in to violate my rights once again!
when are the FEDS going to call me!
Doyle is as corrupt as her buddy Spargo and should go to jail along with him. These clowns wine about not getting a raise, for what? Not doing the job their getting paid to do, even an untrained monkey could sit their and rubber stamp cases that are in front of them. Not enough accountability in good old liberal NYS, and don't think the CJC will do anything but look the other way, its made up of lawyers and sitting judges.
ReplyDelete