The Buffalo Chronicle
Courts
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Would a local jury pool be tainted in the Ciminelli bid rigging case?
The attorneys for Louis Ciminelli, Michael Lapple, and Kevin Schuler — the three LP Ciminelli executives indicted on public corruption allegations, including bribery and bid rigging — are petitioning the court to move…
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Pigeon may take a plea, handing prosecutors Senator Tim Kennedy
It is being rumored among political operatives that former Democratic Party Chairman G. Steven Pigeon — recently indicted on bribery charges by his longtime nemesis Attorney General Eric Schneiderman — is willing to take…
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Did the US Attorney pay an informant $80,000 to lie in Chosen Few case?
BY FRANK PARLATO Last week we wrote about an apparent miscarriage of justice perpetrated by former Assistant US Attorney Anthony M. Bruce as he prosecuted 20 innocent men who were members of…
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Scathing affidavit disclosed in racketeering case against Mayor Brown
Former Deputy Mayor Steve Casey is providing affidavit testimony in the racketeering case against the three-term Mayor Byron W. Brown at the crux of corruption charges that could send him to prison.…
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Cuomo says he could testify in Percoco-Ciminelli corruption trial
ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he has met with federal authorities about the corruption case against a former top aide and close family friend — and acknowledged he could be called…
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Professor traces stability of Italian mafias to leadership structure
BY ZAIN MEHDI The organizational structure of Italian mafias impacts each syndicate’s stability and use of violence, according to Prof. Maurizio Catino, sociology of organization, University of Milan Bicocca. Understanding how these…
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For Blacks facing parole in New York State, signs of a broken system
A New York Times investigation of thousands of parole decisions in the state found that minorities faced marked disadvantages, underscoring a host of problems in the parole process. via For Blacks Facing Parole…
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Ex-Rikers guard gives emotional testimony about inmate’s death
A beefy ex-Rikers Island guard broke down in tears Friday as he explained to a jury how a colleague repeatedly kicked an infirm inmate in the head despite his pleas to stop.…
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As Sweet’s bid for federal bench fails, some look to Judge Montour
Donald Trump is unlikely to nominate Kathleen Sweet to fill the federal court vacancy here, left by Judge William Skretny, who has moved on to senior status on March 8, 2015. Skretny…
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Maziarz may not be out of the woods just yet, as probe heats up
BY TONY FARINA Is former State Senator George Maziarz out of the woods nearly two years after he left office under the cloud of a federal investigation? While Maziarz left office denying…
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Bill Hochul’s abrupt resignation has observers speculating about Kathy
BY MATT RICCHIAZZI When US Attorney William C. Hochul, 57, abruptly announced his resignation on Wednesday, it sparked a flurry of speculation among longtime political observers who are wondering what could have…
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FOIL seeks info on Assigned Counsel for persons uncharged and unchecked for financial need
BY FRANK PARLATO Artvoice has filed a Freedom of Information Law request with the Erie County Assigned Counsel Program to learn how often courts assign a free lawyer to someone in Erie…
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Obama asked to pardon Linda Byrnes, serving 27 years for conspiracy to distribute marijuana
Linda Byrnes is a 70 year old woman who has been in prison for 22 years. She is serving a 27 year and 9 month sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. This April…
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FBI questions Zellner over shake down of judicial candidates
Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Jeremy Zellner was questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigations last week. The nation’s leading law enforcement agency for public corruption cases is interested in a 2014…
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West Side concerned about drugs, prostitution on Breckenridge near Grant Street
BY MATT RICCHIAZZI Upper West Side residents are complaining of drug sales and rampant prostitution near the corner of Breckenridge and Grant Streets, a transitional neighborhood not far from the burgeoning Elmwood…
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Empire State Development still resisting FOIL requests in allegations against Hoyt
BY TONY FARINA The Empire State Development Agency (ESD) is the umbrella organization for New York’s two principal economic development entities, the Urban Development Corporation and the Job Development Authority. It is…
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Cambria seeks info on plea deals in Pigeon case
BY TONY FARINA Political operative and former Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon faces nine felony counts in a state prosecution involving former State Supreme Court Justice John MIchalek who has already…
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Everyone had at least one brush with Pigeon
BY FRANK PARLATO A POLITICAL QUESTION The question of whether politics was a motive for New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman’s prosecution of political operative and attorney G. Steven Pigeon, 55,…
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Speculation on the defenses of Steve Pigeon
BY FRANK PARLATO A lot has been written about political operative and attorney G. Steven Pigeon, 55, after a state grand jury was led to indict him on June 30th on nine…
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Schneiderman-Pigeon political feud colors indictment
BY TONY FARINA Almost lost in the unbelievable feeding frenzy over the indictment last week of political operative Steve Pigeon was the news that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s highly-touted job-creation program Start-Up NY…
