Judge Lippman, please fill in the blanks.
Betsy Combier, Editor
Sunday, March 27, 2011
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OBJECTIONABLE: Manhattan Justice Luis Gonzalez with ex-wife Vivian Gonzalez, whom he hired as a $65,000-a-year court clerk. |
Judge out of order
The New York Post by Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein - March 27, 2011
Link
A Manhattan judge in charge of one of the most prestigious state courts in the country lied on mortgage documents, received property-tax breaks he didn't deserve and made questionable hires that included his ex-wife. Justice Luis Gonzalez, the presiding judge of New York's Appellate Division First Department, simultaneously took advantage of both rent-stabilization rules and home-ownership tax breaks by claiming places in two boroughs as his home, The Post has learned. In 2009, he took out a $510,276 loan on a Brooklyn house, attesting on the mortgage document that the property would be his primary residence. He then got a STAR tax break in 2009, 2010 and 2011 -- a perk that amounted to $4,440 and is supposed to go only for a primary residence. But Gonzalez really resided in a rent-stabilized Grand Concourse apartment in The Bronx, a living situation that is also supposed to be a primary residence. Gonzalez confessed his duplicity to The Post, saying he designated the Brooklyn abode as his main home to get the mortgage. "To be honest with you, I did not think there was anything improper about it," he said. "It sounds super silly, super stupid."
Asked whether the deception was a crime, he said, "If it is, you're talking to someone who is in deep trouble." Jonathan New, a mortgage-fraud expert and former Manhattan federal prosecutor, said it's a federal crime -- fraud -- to lie on a credit application to a federally insured institution or for a federally insured loan. It is punishable by up to 30 years' prison and a maximum $1 million fine. Documents on file with the city show that Gonzalez got the February 2009 loan through now-defunct Union Federal Mortgage Corp. and that the loan was insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Such government-insured loans are available only for a primary residence. Gonzalez has taken out four mortgages on the Williamsburg home since 2004 and paid off three. On the first, for $280,000, he also said he would live in the house, on South Sixth Street. The judge says he lived in the modest two-bedroom house sometime between 2006 or 2007 and 2009, a period in which he borrowed $467,000 in two loans. He said he moved back to The Bronx in January 2009 and was unaware the Brooklyn home had a tax break.
Gonzalez, 65, was promoted from an Appellate Division judge to presiding justice in March 2009 by Gov. David Paterson, becoming the first Latino to hold to the position. As presiding judge, he was required to live in The Bronx or Manhattan. He earns $147,600. Critics say Gonzalez has allowed nepotism to run rampant in the court. Vivian Gonzalez, whom the judge divorced 10 years ago but remains friendly with, was hired in December as a $65,000-a-year court clerk. Gonzalez said there was "no prohibition" against hiring his ex. He said he signed off on recent hirings of court workers' relatives, including his secretary's brother, his executive assistant's nephew and the son of a court officer who used to be his driver. None had state court experience, state payroll records show. But Gonzalez said all were qualified.
Additional reporting by Candice Giove -- melissa.klein@nypost.com
Posted by Corrupt Courts Administrator at 10:00 AM
32 comments:
cant stop laughing said...
Oh, Great! Another dishonest judge in New York. And this fellow is the top job in Manhattan. Can't stop laughing.
March 27, 2011 10:05 AM
IRS said...
Tip Number
124,651
I have a receiver who's appointment is listed on the Part 36 website,
but.. ummm...
there is no mention of the compensation he took...
How come???
March 27, 2011 10:40 AM
Anonymous said...
This post typifies what is wrong with the court system and law practice. Attorneys have been subject to discipline for such conduct. Resulting in ruined careers. Some Judges have been disciplined for such conduct. A Judge was removed as a Judge and eventually disbarred for stealing $1,000.00 from a client when he was a practicing attorney. The resulting discipline and act were ten years apart. Note that Gonzalez based on this article got over $4,000.00 in tax abatements. We need for everyone to be treated equally under the law not unequally based on your status and connection.
March 27, 2011 10:46 AM
Anonymous said...
And pray tell what do his 'ETHICS FORMS' reveal? Want to bet nothing is listed. The impudent OCA, DDC & CJC will give the fraud a free pass. It's the same story - one law for us, the citizens and no law for the rulers! This thing has been living off the tax payers for too long. The 1st Dept. is a den of thieves that been long in jail!
March 27, 2011 10:52 AM
sick to my stomach said...
sad, very sad..what has this world become! Judges, Lawyers, and Prosecutors stealing, lying, covering up crimes all for the MIGHTLY OLD DOLLAR!!!!
March 27, 2011 10:57 AM
Anonymous said...
A couple of those jobs are civil service required jobs..like court clerk, court officer. So where was the bulldog union.... CSEA..... when these nepotistic jobs were handed out without a civil service ranking and selection?
OCA and CSEA work in collusion.... so that the union can get the small pay raises every year they look for..without much trouble or financial payoffs.
One bloated CSEA rep told me in 2005, that CSEA only worried about those little raises because CSEA believes(they have no concrete knowledge) that their members only want CSEA to seek raises exclusively...so all the bad stuff OCA demands, like judges hiring their girlfriends for all the top supervisory titles, unfair hearing practices allowing them to fire anyone..no matter how illegal....stays put in every contract...check it out for yourself.
It is stated like most of what is in those convoluted contracts CSEA PUBLISHES for member reference, in paragraphs that need judicial interpreters to assess...but they can be determined if you study them for weeks or months and then sleep on the thought that CSEA is not your buddy, so the wording will always be OCA friendly!
So CSEA...what do you say about the jobs that this judge handed out as a favor..and also.... where can you locate those illusive civil service laws.
Civil Service told me they don't have them...they exist, but not for publication...try the internet maybe..huh...really?
March 27, 2011 11:42 AM
Sewer Rooter said...
Eric Holder, Scheiderman, Cuomo, Tembeckjian who claims to read newspapers to begin action, where are you? Criminal prosecution and immediate removal from the bench is required; anything less and you each are the bigger evil. Fire the entire nepotistic staff at Appellate Court.
March 27, 2011 11:44 AM
Anonymous said...
Gonzalez and Susan Hernandez are two of the most corrupt individuals in the entire unified court system. There are at least 40 other friends and relatives, not only in the Appellate Division but all over the the Bronx as well. Numerous complaints have been sent to the IG, hopefully this will be the start of something.
March 27, 2011 12:26 PM
Anonymous said...
Isn't this the same Luis Gonzalez who was discussed in recent posts?
Isn't this the same Luis Gonzalez who isn't really a judge but was given the position of "Administrative Judge"?
Let's hope that the investigation doesn't stop with this, but they look into how he got this promotion.
March 27, 2011 12:42 PM
Anonymous said...
If Gonzalez got caught, it's not because he is more corrupt, but either sloppier or crossed the wrong people.
The Second Dept, particularly the 9th JD has them beat. Look at whose in charge at the OCA. That's probably why nothing changes there.
March 27, 2011 12:46 PM
Anonymous said...
The same Luis Gonzalez, and it was because of both sloppiness and arrogance. Both the judge and Susan flaunted these hirings of inept and conceited relatives in the face of everyone. It was only a matter of time before complaints were submitted. Furthermore the ones mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg, his nephew as well as girlfriend were also recently employed in the Appellate Division with high salaries and no prior court experience.
March 27, 2011 12:53 PM
Anonymous said...
re: civil service jobs
fyi, although the jobs maybe civil service, they can be filled without complying with the laws and rules (any surprise).
I think we all know that when dealing with any government agency, if they want to do something, or not do something, there is nothing anyone can do about it.
If there was actual accountability and repercussions for misconduct, there probably wouldn't be a need for this blog.
March 27, 2011 12:55 PM
Anonymous said...
Any job OCA distributes may be in the category that violates civil service rules...wherever those rules are now resting for viewing...but that is why we pay such high union dues...so CSEA..our civil service watchdog, will prevent civil service titled and tested jobs, from going to Judicial family, friends and those many, many girlfriends that the Judges so enjoy on the desk in their offices..yes Appellate judge sitting and now 76...I mean you and your trim!
Where are the comments defending CSEA from the reps... scared because you know I am right and ready with more for you for later.
March 27, 2011 2:14 PM
Anonymous said...
This just SMELLs of a County Wide Credit fiasco. I'm thinking of going to Judge school too.
Q: ...and the answer is ??
A: ahhhhhhh, I dunno, ahhhhh....both are primary residence?
CJC=Can't Just Cheat ?
March 27, 2011 2:24 PM
Anonymous said...
The lowlives from the 1st department that recently retired and are collecting state pensions should be the target of serious criminal investigations.
March 27, 2011 3:01 PM
Anonymous said...
Interesting that some of the retirees from 1st dept had early mafia ties and would brag that all they had to do was "make a phone call" to get things done. Not to mention other vile transgressions.
March 27, 2011 3:04 PM
Anonymous said...
Funny cause all they have to do is look at phone records to connect the dots. It's called investigations 101...elementary!
March 27, 2011 3:11 PM
Anonymous said...
Gonzalez is better than the prior make-believe PJ: one Jonathan Lippman.... why isn't the NY Post looking into Lippman's shady deals?!
March 27, 2011 3:52 PM
Anonymous said...
Gonzalez is a corrupt pervert who fucks anything that walks. Susan Hernandez is a nasty cunt who walk around with such arrogance that her enemy list is a mile long.
March 27, 2011 4:31 PM
fed waiter said...
What a joke. What are the feds waiting for?
March 27, 2011 4:46 PM
Anonymous said...
I'm thinking of going to Judge school too
just make sure you have some extra cash around to pass!
March 27, 2011 5:55 PM
Anonymous said...
I'm thinking of going to Judge school too
just make sure you have some extra cash around to pass!
March 27, 2011 5:55 PM
i like to watch said...
What Speedy Gonzalez should have said was that it was OK for judges and lawyers to be criminals in New York. And the more sex they have the better. And the more they screw people (the little people) all the better. Realize that screwing people doesn't necessarily have anything to do with sex. Ask a shrink, he/she will give you the details.
March 27, 2011 6:18 PM
Anonymous said...
Sun-Ming "Sunny" Sheu came to a "sudden" untimely Death within days of appearing at OCA exposing "Certificated" Supreme Court Judge Joseph Golia for even more significant Financial Disclosure issues.
The FBI in NYC were Fully Aware and one Special Agent warned Sunny to "be careful".
Where is our Federal Govt? Where are real actions and result? Where is the Murder Investigation of Sun-Ming Sheu?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tr3QChAy4Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9fWFfCgM5Q&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p80mLeqUbek&feature=related
March 27, 2011 8:08 PM
Anonymous said...
I thought that Senator Sampson was guiding or leading the Feds or something about all this corruption?
Looks like he is out of place in this picture with Governor Andrew Cuomo, Speaker Silver, and Senator Dean Skelos smiling, feeling good, doing a budget, 3 Men still in a Room, NO Talk about Courts and Court Reforms, no talk about Court Corruption, No Changes at All. Same old same old same old. And the beat goes on.
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/62063/cuomo-says-budget-is-done/
March 27, 2011 10:05 PM
Anonymous said...
You have to love it! The PJ of the 1st Dept. nailed in a criminal fraud! You can't make this stuff up! Do you think that he used the US Postal Service to facilitate this fraud? Have no fear Luis Gonzalez your friends Milt Williams and the doughboy Leo M will work their magic and all will be fixed - Oh sorry I mean well, yes well! How come old Jonathan Lippman is soooo quiet? Hum Stage right the federal are coming or are they? Time to flush the luv!
March 28, 2011 12:26 AM
Anonymous said...
They forget to add his daughter Nydia Gonzalez & his brother who he also got jobs in brooklyn supreme court...This is nepotism/corruption at its best.
March 28, 2011 12:48 AM
Anonymous said...
The problem with court corruption and the existence of any kind of reform is that the court's only pretend accountability in litigation after the arrests, is another court..Federal Ct..... so now you are fighting judges and lawyers with judges and lawyers...cannot happen in this America we have today.
You also then have Gov. agency going after another Gov. agency, likely all doing the same crimes..not going to happen!
You have the option of the Gov agencies of the FBI, DOJ, CJC ETC. and they are also part of the same game...not interested in busting up what great gig they have going until their retirements.
So what do you have.. a very interesting fact loaded lawsuit stuck in a Gov. judicial entanglement, that is attempting to figure out how to legally twist judicial crimes to benefit OCA's reputation, because the pltf has information and damages that could cause greater exposure and harm to the NY justice syndicate.
So this case continues bending and twisting through the courts, always adjourned 100% by the courts for their failure to comply... with zero repercussions for their circumventing of due process, for multiple years with no end in sight...until maybe the American people, not Gov. agencies who are all completely unheroic....can finally view the truth and demand integrity and the long sought reform!
March 28, 2011 11:49 AM
Anonymous said...
YOUR BEST BET IS TO JUST START SHOOTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ITS GODLY AND APPROVED BY JESUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR
THE RADIATIONS COMING ANYWAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DEATH TO TYRANTS
March 28, 2011 12:48 PM
Anonymous said...
Geez, ex-wife's, nephews, brothers, daughters, girlfriends, its like a family reunion everyday at work for Gonzalez and Hernandez
March 28, 2011 6:16 PM
Anonymous said...
How come Barbara Ross (legal writer) at the Daily News hasn't written one word about this hot scandal? Could it be that if she did write something her husband none other than Robert (Mr. Rogers) Tembeckjian would get fired so it's better to "cover" it up. How ofter do you get the PJ of the 1st Dept. caught in the act? Has he left the building yet?
March 28, 2011 11:30 PM
anonymous said...
One can only hopes that he steps down, but judging by his arrogance thats not likely.
March 29, 2011 6:21 AM
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