Apr 26, 2018 at 8:20 pm. The judge told Spota to surrender to prison officials on Dec. 10 and also sentenced him to pay a $100,000 fine. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Boeckmann said in court Tuesday that Spota still hadn't apologized for actions that had "an absolute chilling effect" on the county's criminal justice system and implored the judge to impose prison time. Prosecutors want a federal judge to deny bail for ex-Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota and his former aide while . All Rights Reserved. Spota and McPartland both resigned from the District Attorneys Office in light of the charges against them and have since been disbarred. LONG ISLAND, NY Former Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota, 79, and his chief investigator, found guilty of obstruction by a jury in 2019 for covering up an incident during which a man was beaten after he stole a duffel bag from a former police chief filled with sex toys and pornography were each sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday, federal officials said. Former Det. (Provided) A 46 . Support RiverheadLOCAL today. Thomas J. Spota, the former district attorney in Suffolk County, N.Y., was found guilty on Tuesday of four counts, including obstruction of justice and witness tampering. The obstruction initially worked, thwarting federal agents for several months. [1] Spota resigned November 10, 2017, after he was indicted on federal charges of obstruction of justice in the investigation of Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke. On Tuesday, Mr. Spota, 78, was convicted of participating in a yearslong conspiracy to cover up for Mr. Burke after he violently beat a man accused of stealing from him while he was the police chief. Spota. The cover-up of Chief Burkes assault, witnesses at trial said, was part of a broader pattern. Is Convicted on Long Island. Spota was convicted in December 2019 on federal charges of conspiracy to tamper with witnesses and obstruct an official proceeding, witness tampering, obstruction of justice and being an accessory to Burke, U.S. Department of Justice officials said. August 10, 2021 CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) A former Long Island prosecutor was sentenced to 5 years in prison on Tuesday for helping cover up the police beating of a prisoner suspected of stealing sex toys and other items from a police chief's vehicle. "The allegations of covert spying, threats made against perceived enemies, relentless intimidation tactics, and outright fear were spelled out clearly by federal prosecutors and I commend them for their outstanding work.
Suffolk Prosecutor Charged With Obstructing Police Assault "[12] Thomas Spota and one his top aides in the Suffolk County district attorney's office, Christopher McPartland, were convicted in December 2019 on counts of conspiracy, obstruction of justice . Mount Sinai, New York, CHRISTOPHER McPARTLAND Mr. McPartland and Mr. Burke used to greet one another on the phone with a vulgar imprecation. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Some were warned that if they admitted wrongdoing, their union would not pay their legal fees, prosecutors said. Loeb spoke before Tuesdays sentencing, saying, Spota should spend the rest of his life behind bars for all the lives he has ruined.. They golfed together and drank together. I met with the daughter. As certain key witnesses were then compelled to testify before the grand jury under a grant of immunity, the truth about Burke assaulting Loeb finally emerged. "The allegations of covert spying, threats made against perceived enemies, relentless intimidation tactics, and outright fear were spelled out clearly by federal prosecutors and I commend them for their outstanding work. Scandal Began With Sex Toys. This culture of corruption has had a real and profound impact.
Former Suffolk DA Thomas Spota, Ex-Aide Convicted Of Covering Up Among the successful cases prosecuted by his office was the conviction in May 2017 of John Bittrolff, a Manorville carpenter charged with the homicides of prostitutes Rita Tangredi and Colleen McNamee, whose bodies were found on area South Shore beaches in 1993 and 1994, respectively. The government also claimed McPartland was the "architect of the lies," helping Burke craft a story about Loeb being a "junkie thief" who fabricated his tale of an assault a script everyone who became part of the conspiracy had to follow. Oct. 25, 2017. Eyewitness News has learned it appears Spota and McPartland will appeal their sentences. This culture of corruption has had a real and profound impact. ALSO READ | Earth warming likely to pass limit set by international leaders. Loeb was paid $1.5 million after he filed a federal lawsuit against Suffolk County for "being beaten while shackled to the floor of an interrogation room by former Police Chief James Burke in 2012 after stealing a duffel bag packed with a gun belt, ammunition, sex toys and pornography from Burke's vehicle," a report by 1010wins said. Mr. Hickey testified that he was ordered to instruct his men to deny, deny, deny. Mr. Spota and the others involved in the cover-up handpicked one of the three officers, Anthony Leto, to lie under oath about the assault during a court hearing, Mr. Hickey said. After the assault, Burke ordered high-ranking lieutenants of the SCPD to ensure that the detectives and officers who had witnessed the assault would never reveal whatthey had observed, federal officials said. The administration panicked, prosecutors said. They also presented evidence that Spota, as part of his history of covering up for Burke, wrote a 2011 letter to County Executive-elect Steve Bellones transition team. They ruined lives and destroyed careers. McPartland, who also is serving a five-year sentence, is incarcerated at Beaumont Federal Correctional Complex in Texas, according to the newspaper. "Ive also left them with a shattered legacy and the stain of being a convicted felon," the former district attorney said. CENTRAL ISLIP, Long Island (WABC) -- Former Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday following his 2019 conviction for helping cover for a former protg who as police chief punched a handcuffed man suspected of stealing embarrassing items from his police department SUV, including sex toys and pornography. Prosecutors produced calendar entries and call records that they said showed Mr. Hickey was telling the truth. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Boeckmann, Lara Treinis Gatz, Justina L. Geraci and Michael R. Maffei are in charge of the prosecution. The defense said prosecutors were relying on Mr. Hickeys recollection of conversations that happened years ago, with no concrete evidence to corroborate his memory. Mr. Spotas lawyer, Alan Vinegrad, declined to comment on the verdict. The federal judge said prosecutors have enormous power over life, liberty and reputation, but the defendants substantially abused that power by helping to cover up Loeb's assault, forcing detectives to lie to a grand jury and prosecutors and thwarting a grand jury investigation. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. Spota was convicted in December 2019 on federal charges of conspiracy . He always had a soft spot for a police officer named James Burke, who rose under his tutelage to become the countys chief of police. But he insisted his memory wasnt compromised by his drinking and that he never consumed alcohol after his 2013 hospital discharge. It was written by Murphy. "Burke, Spota and McPartland used the power and influence of their official positions, and the threat of retaliatory arrest and prosecution, to keep anyone from cooperating with that investigation," federal officials said in the release. He repeatedly promoted Mr. Burke in the Police Department, consolidating their power. Expand. This story has been shared 137,412 times. Current Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini said in a statement following the sentencings, "The actions of these defendants represent the worst of law enforcement.". Spota was convicted of witness tampering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy, and he must report to prison by December 10. Mr. Spota viewed Mr. Burke almost as a son, standing with him whenever he was touched by scandal. The pre-pandemic verdict supported the prosecution's contention that both defendants orchestrated a cover-up of the beating of the shackled burglary suspect that Burke carried out with three detectives inside a Hauppauge precinct. The survival of local journalism depends on your support. Later that morning, a man was arrested with the stolen goods.
A scandal sent a Long Island police chief to prison. Now it's brought He said he feared he or his family would be falsely accused of a crime if he testified honestly about Loebs beating.
Powerful Former LI Prosecutor Guilty of Police Beating Cover-Up Word of a reopened probe panicked Spota, according to Hickeys testimony. He'd been convicted of trying to cover up an assault by former police chief James Burke, Spota's top. His attorney, Larry Krantz, lobbied for leniency for a client he called "an honorable, decent, good man" who had "a brutal fall from grace.". He entered private law practice in Suffolk, representing clients including the Suffolk Detectives Association and other law enforcement unions.[7]. The defense took aim at Hickey, who retired shortly before pleading guilty in 2016 to conspiracy to obstruct justice, and who told jurors he is hoping for leniency at his future sentencing because of his role as a cooperating prosecution witness. ", Bellone said Suffolk District Attorney Tim Sini has "restored integrity to the office. Spota and co-defendant Chris. The assault of the burglary suspect happened about a year into Mr. Burkes tenure as police chief. Burke had flown off the handle in 2012 while interrogating suspect Christopher Loeb who had stolen a bag from the chiefs SUV. All rights reserved.
Feds seek lengthy prison terms for corrupt former Suffolk County DA "It has been a difficult five years and I have lost a lot," the ex-prosecutor said in part. But the investigation escalated again in 2015 with more subpoenas. After the meeting, Chief Burke threatened that if the police detectives failed to stay in line, he would expose that Mr. Hickey was cheating on his wife, Mr. Hickey said.
Ex-Suffolk County DA, Aide Denied Bail Pending Appeal: Feds Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. "I hope it sends a clear message that no one is above the law and criminal conduct that betrays the public trust will be punished," the judge said of his sentence. Main Office
Spota and. The survival of local journalism depends on your support.