Choose John Michalski had been eyed by authorities for years however had by no means confronted felony fees.
Charles Lewis/Buffalo Information
A veteran New York state choose killed himself lower than two weeks after his dwelling was raided by investigators, in accordance with one in all his attorneys.
John Michalski, an performing justice on the Erie County Supreme Court docket, died by suicide Tuesday at his Amherst dwelling, the place federal and state regulation enforcement officers had executed a search warrant 12 days earlier, the Buffalo Information reported. He was 61.
“It’s heartbreaking,” protection legal professional Terrence Connors advised the newspaper. “He was such a superb man. This simply didn’t must occur.”
Michalski, who was appointed to the New York Court docket of Claims, and as an performing Supreme Court docket justice in 2006, had been eyed by investigators for years, however no felony fees had been ever filed in opposition to him. His looming authorized woes appeared to be “manageable,” Connors advised the newspaper.
The choose’s dying got here a little bit over a 12 months after he was struck by a slow-moving freight practice in Depew, in what was believed to be a suicide try. He suffered a critical leg damage, however survived.
Days after the February 2021 incident, Michalski was questioned by federal brokers about his friendship with Peter Gerace Jr., the proprietor of a strip membership in Cheektowaga and a former consumer, the Buffalo Information reported.
Michalski was injured by the freight practice on the identical day Gerace was charged with a number of felonies, together with drug and intercourse trafficking, in addition to bribing a federal agent. Gerace denies the allegations, in accordance with the newspaper.
Years earlier, Michalski was eyed by the feds as investigators probed Gerace and a retired Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Joseph Bongiovanni, in June 2019.
The DEA agent advised investigators Gerace was friends with Michalski. Their friendship dates again 20 years, legal professional Anthony Lana, who was additionally representing the choose, advised the Buffalo Information.
Michalski wrote a letter to William Sketny, a federal choose in New York, in 2006 asking for leniency on behalf of Gerace, who was awaiting sentencing for a felony wire fraud conviction. He described Gerace as a consumer and a pal.
Sketny lower Gerace a slight break, giving him 5 months in jail when federal sentencing pointers advised anyplace from eight to 12 months, in accordance with the newspaper.
FBI brokers continued probing Michalski’s connection to Gerace following the practice incident — and had been in search of proof of tax crimes in the course of the March 24 raid at his dwelling, two authorities sources advised the Buffalo Information.
Investigators seized paperwork related to a small on-line enterprise operated by Michalski’s spouse, Susan, Lana advised the Buffalo Information.
Michalski’s caseload was transferred someday after the raid and no circumstances had been to be assigned to him “till additional discover,” in accordance with the State Workplace of Courts Administration. He had returned to the bench in January after taking depart following the practice incident.
The choose was additionally the topic of an investigation by the state Lawyer Normal’s Workplace related to doable corruption, one supply aware of the matter advised the New York Occasions. No fees had been filed in opposition to him within the inquiry, the newspaper reported.
Michalski is survived by his spouse and 4 youngsters.
In case you are scuffling with suicidal ideas or are experiencing a psychological well being disaster and stay in New York Metropolis, you'll be able to name 1-888-NYC-WELL free of charge and confidential disaster counseling. Should you stay outdoors the 5 boroughs, you'll be able to dial the 24/7 Nationwide Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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