Feds Convict Ex-NYS Trial Judge For Attempting To Put A $10K Squeeze On Attorney With Cases Pending Before Him

From the U.S. Department of Justice:

• Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo was convicted [Thursday] by a federal jury in Albany, N.Y., of attempted extortion and soliciting a bribe. Spargo, 66, was convicted following a three-day jury trial. Evidenced introduced at trial showed that on Nov. 13, 2003, Spargo solicited a $10,000 payment from an attorney with cases pending before him in Ulster County, while Spargo was serving as a state supreme court justice. The trial evidence showed that when the attorney declined to pay the money, Spargo increased the pressure by a second solicitation communicated through an associate.

• According to evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 19, 2003, Spargo directly told the attorney in a telephone conversation that he and another judge close to him had been assigned to handle cases in Ulster County, including the attorney’s personal divorce case. According to the evidence at trial, the attorney felt that if he did not pay the money, both the cases handled by his law firm and his personal divorce proceeding would be in jeopardy.

For the entire Justice Department press release, see Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo Convicted of Attempted Extortion and Bribery.