The judge, Justice Sylvia G. Ash of State Supreme Court, was arrested after arriving at La Guardia Airport from Miami. https://www.nytimes.com/.../brooklyn-supreme-court-judge-sylvia-ash.html GUAGLIARDO is a former officer with the New York City Police Department, who retired in or about 1989. On or about May 8, 2018, Wong was charged and arrested by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and, on or about June 12, 2018, Wong was terminated by MCU. Mr. Berman also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Department of Financial Services, and the New York City Police Department Internal Affairs Bureau for their assistance. MCU is the oldest credit union in New York State and one of the oldest and largest in the country, providing banking services to more than 500,000 members, and with more than $2.9 billion in member accounts, each of which is federally insured for at least $250,000 by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which is administered by the NCUA. She is the presiding judge of the court’s Commercial Division, which handles civil matters involving sums greater than $150,000. It has nearly $3 billion in accounts held by its members, who are typically public employees. “All charges against Judge Ash are allegations,” Archibald, also a Brooklyn resident, told Caribbean Life in an interview Wednesday night. Justice Ash, 62, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and two counts of obstruction of justice. Justice Sylvia G. Ash, a judge of the Kings County (Brooklyn) Supreme Court in the 2nd Judicial District of New York, was on March 15, honored by United States Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn. She made an initial appearance on Friday before a federal magistrate judge, who set the terms of her release at a $500,000 personal recognizance bond. The chief executive, Kam Wong, “tried to cover up what he had done by making false statements to federal investigators and creating false and misleading documents,” the prosecutors said. In addition to charges against Justice Ash, prosecutors said on Friday that they had arrested Joseph Guagliardo, a retired New York City police officer, in connection with Mr. Wong’s embezzlement scheme. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. King. In outlining the charges against Justice Ash, prosecutors suggested a possible motive for her behavior: From 2012 to 2016, while Mr. Wong was chief executive and she was on the board, she “received annually tens of thousands of dollars in reimbursements and other benefits” from the credit union, “including airfare, hotels, food and entertainment expenses for her and a guest to attend conferences domestically and abroad, as well as payment for phone and cable bills, and electronic devices.”. “She didn’t do anything wrong and she expects to be fully exonerated.” Mr. Archibald also rejected the suggestion that there was anything inappropriate about the reimbursements cited by prosecutors. Sylvia Ash for Brooklyn judge DC 37 has endorsed Sylvia Ash for Civil Court Judge in Brooklyn (Kings County) in the primary on Tuesday, Sept. 13. “It is important for members to get out and vote for our union sister Sylvia Ash,” said Lillian Roberts, DC 37 executive director . [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints, and the description of the Complaints set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation. Judge Sylvia Ash of state Supreme Court, ... the city’s largest public employee union. Membership in MCU is generally available to employees of New York City and its agencies, employees of the federal and New York state governments who work in New York City, and employees of hospitals, nursing homes, and similar facilities located within New York State. Ash, 62, a Brooklyn resident, is a presiding judge of the Kings County (Brooklyn) Supreme Court, Commercial Division, and a former chair of MCU’s Board of Directors. In or about January 2016, ASH was appointed to be the As alleged, Sylvia Ash, a sitting state court judge, took repeated steps to obstruct a federal investigation into significant financial misconduct at MCU during Ash’s tenure as chair of the board of directors. Berman also announced that Joseph Guagliardo, also known as “Joseph Gagliardo,” a former New York City Police Department Officer and former member of MCU’s supervisory committee, was charged … Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York City. In or about January 2016, ASH was appointed to be the presiding judge in the Kings County Supreme Court’s Commercial Division. Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SYLVIA ASH, presiding judge of the Kings County Supreme Court, Commercial Division, and former chair of the board of directors of Municipal Credit Union (“MCU”), was charged in Manhattan federal court with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice, arising from a scheme to seek to influence and impede an ongoing federal investigation into fraud and corruption at MCU, a non-profit, multibillion-dollar financial institution. U.S. Attorney Berman praised the outstanding work of the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office. Ash, 62, a Brooklyn, New York resident, is a presiding judge of the Kings County Supreme Court, Commercial Division, and a former chair of MCU’s Board of Directors. Justice Ash was originally elected to the Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County in 2005. Sylvia G Ash is Former Justice at New York State Supreme Court. https://judges.newyorklawjournal.com/.../Sylvia_Ash/Sylvia_Ash-322.xml Guagliardo was arrested in Brooklyn, New York, yesterday afternoon and was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang in Manhattan federal court. From in or about May 2015 until her resignation from the Board, ASH served as the chair of the Board. Kings County Civil Court Justice Sylvia Ash, left, leaves Federal Court in New York with her lawyer Roger Archibald. Justice Ash was first elected to Civil Court in Brooklyn in 2005 and elected to the State Supreme Court bench in 2010. Giving back to the community through a variety of venues & initiatives. In addition, during substantially the same period in which GUAGLIARDO was committing and concealing these offenses, GUAGLIARDO participated in a scheme to unlawfully distribute controlled substances to Wong, in the form of prescription drugs, some of which were obtained from GUAGLIARDO’s spouse, who worked as a doctor affiliated with a public hospital, and some of which were obtained from a doctor affiliated with the New York City Police Department. Justice Ash held that the contract of sale was valid even though it was signed on behalf of the Plaintiff by Plaintiff’s counsel. Doc # Document Type 81 SUMMONS (POST RJI) (AMENDED) Amended Summons 82 COMPLAINT (AMENDED) (Un-Redacted per 202.5(e) or … Justice Ash found the … GUAGLIARDO also defrauded and embezzled from MCU by over-billing for more than $200,000 for purported web advertising services provided by a non-profit organization that GUAGLIARDO also controlled. On consideration of the continuation of this Court's suspension, with pay, of Honorable Sylvia G. Ash from the office of Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County, it is determined that the suspension continue, with pay, effective immediately. For the fifth installment of this blog’s ongoing “Check the Rules” series, we feature the individual practice or part rules of the Justices of the Kings County Commercial Division, particularly those recently instituted by Hon. Please keep this notice as a confirmation of this filing. She was elected a Kings County Civil Court judge in … NYSCEF - Kings County Supreme Court 05/10/2016 09:48 AM Assigned Judge: SYLVIA G. ASH, COMM 11 The NYSCEF website has received an electronic filing on 05/10/2016 09:48 AM. Judge Obstructed Justice in $10 Million Corruption Case, U.S. Says. William Miller, the Supervisory Judge of the Criminal Court, Kings County is scheduled to receive the Ecumenical Award. ASH has served as a judge in the New York State court system since at least approximately 2006, first as a Kings County Civil Court Judge, and, commencing in 2011, as a Kings County Supreme Court Justice. A prominent Brooklyn judge and a retired NYPD cop ensnared in a corruption of the state’s largest credit union discussed parking privileges as investigators closed in. ASH has served as judge in the New York state court system since at least approximately 2006, first as a Kings County Civil Court judge, and, commencing in 2011, as a Kings County Supreme Court Justice. With significant expansion of real estate in … ASH, 62, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; and two counts of obstruction of justice, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Mr. Guagliardo, prosecutors said, used his position on the credit union’s supervisory committee — and specifically his role overseeing the security and fraud department — to direct more than $250,000 to a “purported security company” that he controlled that “did little or no real work,” and to overbill for online advertising services provided by a nonprofit he controlled. While he was a Supervisory Committee member, GUAGLIARDO sought to and did use his position to oversee aspects of MCU’s security and fraud department, including serving in the role of vice president of MCU’s security and fraud department while that position was vacant. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “The charges announced today reflect the latest in our ongoing work to uncover criminal conduct at the highest levels of MCU, a multibillion-dollar, federally insured credit union. She must also wear a GPS location-monitoring device, and will be detained until it is fitted on Tuesday, a spokesman for Mr. Berman said. John Arlia, Mr. Guagliardo’s lawyer, did not respond to a request for comment. Assistant U.S. She was charged in a criminal complaint with trying to thwart the federal inquiry into Mr. Wong’s theft in several ways. Judge DeFiore, on April 1, appointed Justice Sylvia G. Ash, whose father was the late Rudolph "Fire” Ash, of Kingstown Hill, to the 11-member Commission. Supreme Court, Kings County Supreme Court Complex 360 Adams Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 . Justice Ash, prosecutors said, had signed a false memo that tried to justify millions of dollars in improper payments that Mr. Wong received from the credit union; concealed and deleted text messages and emails, and wiped clean her iPhone issued by the credit union; and made false and misleading statements to federal investigators. The Hon. Mr. Guagliardo got some of the drugs, prosecutors said, from his spouse, “who worked as a doctor affiliated with a public hospital,” and some “from a doctor affiliated with the New York City Police Department.”. In or about January 2018, after Wong had been approached by federal law enforcement agents investigating potential financial misconduct by Wong involving MCU and in an attempt to protect Wong, ASH agreed to and did sign a false and misleading memorandum purporting to explain and justify millions of dollars in payments that Wong had received from MCU, which was then provided by Wong to law enforcement officers. MCU’s written conflict of interest policy, which was regularly distributed to Board members, Supervisory Committee members, and others, provided, among other things, that members of MCU’s “Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee may not do business with the Credit Union, either individually or as representative of any business entity.”. “There was nothing that she received that was above and beyond what every board member received,” he said. Justice Ash, a judge of the Kings County (Brooklyn) Supreme Court in the 2nd Judicial District of New York, is the only African-American and one of two women on the Commission. On or about December 2, 2018, Wong pled guilty to a multimillion-dollar embezzlement from MCU, and acknowledged, in his written plea agreement, among other things, endeavoring to obstruct and impede and obstructing and impeding the administration of justice with respect to the criminal investigation into this matter, and agreeing with one or more others to do the same. Please keep this notice as a confirmation of this filing. e. SYLVIA ASH, the defendant, is a New York State Supreme Court Justice in Kings County. According to its most recent annual report, the commission’s objective is “to enforce high standards of conduct for judges, who must be free to act independently, on the merits and in good faith, but also must be held accountable should they commit misconduct.”. U.S. Attorney Berman also announced today that Joseph Guagliardo, a/k/a “Joseph Gagliardo,” a former New York City Police Department Officer and former member of MCU’s supervisory committee, was charged separately with embezzlement, fraud, and controlled substance offenses arising from abuse of his position as a member of the supervisory committee. The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. From on or about at least 2007 until on or about June 12, 2018, Kam Wong served as MCU’s chief executive officer (“CEO”) and president. Part Information Kings County Commercial Division Courtroom 774 360 Adams Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 Phone: 347-296-1630 Part Clerk: Averell Golub Motions: Friday, 9:30 a.m. On Friday, federal prosecutors said that Mr. Wong had been helped in the cover-up by a high-ranking ally: a Brooklyn judge who led the credit union’s board of directors. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Discovery Part Rules Foreclosure Auction Rules Judges Part Rules Kings Civil Supreme Rules Search judges profiles from New York trial and appellate courts, as well as federal circuit and district courts GUAGLIARDO’s Alleged Embezzlement, Fraud, and Unlawful Provision of Controlled Substances to Wong. ASH has served as a judge in the New York State court system since at least approximately 2006, first as a Kings County Civil Court Judge, and, commencing in 2011, as a Kings County Supreme Court Justice. This revelation and others were detailed in a criminal complaint against Sylvia Ash, a judge of the Kings County Supreme Court in Brooklyn and former board member for New York City-based MCU. “My client maintains her innocence,” he said. of Kings County Supreme Court, Commercial Division granted the Plaintiff-purchaser’s motion for summary judgment on its claim for specific performance of a contract for the sale of real property. “Under our system of justice, she enjoys the presumption of innocence, and … Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York City. The maximum potential sentences in these cases are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Clarke’s mother, the trail-blazing Dr. Una Clarke, the first Caribbean-born woman to … Judge Sylvia Ash, 62, is currently the presiding judge of Kings County Supreme Court Commercial Division and has served as a state judge since 2006. Subsequently, ASH agreed to and did continue to seek to influence and impede the federal investigation in multiple ways, including by (i) concealing and deleting relevant text messages and email messages and wiping her MCU-issued Apple iPhone in a further effort to destroy and impair the availability of evidence that had been sought by federal grand jury subpoenas, and (ii) making false and misleading statements to federal law enforcement officers in interviews conducted as part of a federal criminal investigation. Chief Judge DiFiore and Judges Rivera, Stein, Fahey, Garcia, Wilson and Feinman concur. At all relevant times, MCU was supposed to be overseen by a board of directors (the “Board”) and a supervisory committee (the “Supervisory Committee”), each of which was composed of volunteer members of MCU, who were not to be compensated. Commercial Division Attorney's Certification … The judge “took repeated steps to obstruct a federal investigation into significant financial misconduct,” said Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. Mark and Daniel C. Richenthal are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alona Katz from the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Guagliardo, 62, was also charged with illegally providing Mr. Wong with prescription drugs. Brooklyn Bar Association Past President Gregory X. Hester- Federal authorities arrested a Brooklyn judge at Laguardia Airport … Among other things, GUAGLIARDO defrauded and embezzled from MCU by causing it to direct more than $250,000 to a purported security company created and controlled by GUAGLIARDO, but operated in another’s name, which did little to no real work for MCU. NYSCEF - Kings County Supreme Court 02/16/2016 01:04 PM Assigned Judge: SYLVIA G. ASH, COMM 11 The NYSCEF website has received an electronic filing on 02/16/2016 01:04 PM. The Brooklyn judge was accused of destroying text messages and emails during a fraud inquiry at a major credit union. MCU is a non-profit financial institution headquartered in New York, New York, which is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”). On the Court's own motion, it is determined that Honorable Sylvia G. Ash is suspended, with pay, effective immediately, from the office of Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County, pursuant to New York Constitution, article VI, § 22 and Judiciary Law § 44. Justice Sylvia G. Ash, J.S.C. She was elected to the Supreme Court in 2011. By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Alamy photos SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 4 – A now suspended Brooklyn Supreme Court judge Sylvia Ash was first brought by US Marshals on October 11 to be presented in SDNY Magistrates Court on charges of obstructing the investigation of fraud at the … Photo by Stefano Giovannini Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York City Sylvia G. Ash is a Justice of the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term in the 2nd Judicial District of New York. Photo by Stefano Giovannini. Justice Sylvia Ash (L) with Labor Day Carnival Queen, Trinidadian Kay Mason, at the launch of the West Indian American Day Carnival Parade at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, in August 2018. Steven Hirsch. Attorneys Eli J. Brooklyn judge Sylvia Ash was arrested on Friday for allegedly obstructing an investigation into an multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme at Municipal Credit Union. Public Service Announcement on Sexual Assault in Public Housing. After the charges were announced, Justice Ash was immediately stripped of her judicial duties pending the outcome of the case and suspended with pay from her $210,000-a-year position by the state Court of Appeals, according to a court system spokesman. Important. Chief Judge DiFiore and Judges Rivera, Stein, Fahey, Garcia, Wilson and Feinman concur. Uniform Standards for Assignment of Cases & Rules of Practice (22 NYCRR 202.70) Kings County Commercial Division Rules. Conferences: Friday, 9:30 a.m. Posted on March 6, 2019 Brooklyn judge Sylvia Ash was arrested on Friday for allegedly obstructing an investigation into an multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme at Municipal Credit Union. Among her other duties, Justice Ash previously served on New York State’s Commission on Judicial Conduct. See Sylvia G Ash's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. GUAGLIARDO engaged in a long-running scheme to defraud MCU, with the agreement and assistance of, among others, Wong. ASH was arrested at LaGuardia Airport this morning and is expected to appear before Magistrate Judge Wang in Manhattan federal court this afternoon. Suspended State Judge Ash Released on $500000 Bond For MCU Obstruction. In SDNY Brooklyn State Judge Ash Faces Curcio Hearing and Culture Clash Attack. One St. Andrews Plaza - New York, NY 10007, Former New York City Police Department Officer and Supervisory Committee Member Also Charged With Embezzlement, Fraud, and Controlled Substance Offenses, Human Trafficking & Child Sexual Exploitation, Department of Justice Harassment Prevention Resource, Download U.S. v. Joseph Guagliardo Complaint. Justice Sylvia G. Ash faces federal obstruction of justice charges related to corruption at the Municipal Credit Union. Justice Ash’s lawyer, Roger Archibald, said that she would fight the charges. By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Alamy photos SDNY COURTHOUSE, Oct 11 – A now suspended Brooklyn Supreme Court judge was brought by US Marshals on October 11 to be presented on charges of obstructing the investigation of fraud at the Municipal Credit Union, where she was a board … Even after her resignation from the Board, Wong continued to provide or cause MCU to provide ASH with benefits, such as Apple devices. The Chief Judge's Task Force on Commercial Litigation in the 21st Century - Report . Ash has been arrested on obstruction of justice and conspiracy charges in connection with a multi-million dollar fraud scheme. Operational Info. Photo by Nelson A. In or about January 2016, ASH was appointed to be the presiding judge in the Kings County Supreme Court’s Commercial Division. “If we can help her win September 13, she can go all the way in November.” Ash is a Supervising … ASH also served as a trustee of MCU’s pension plan, a position from which she resigned on or about October 31, 2016. ASH is a New York State Supreme Court Justice in Kings County. GUAGLIARDO, 62, of Brooklyn, New York, is separately charged with one count of conspiracy to embezzle from a federal credit union, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; one count of embezzlement, one count of conspiracy to defraud a financial institution, and one count of defrauding a financial institution, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and one count of distribution of controlled substances, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, Administrative Judge for Civil Matters, Kings County who will be presented with the President’s Award and Hon. In or about 1993, GUAGLIARDO joined the Supervisory Committee of MCU, a volunteer position, and remained in that position until he was removed from that position by the New York State Department of Financial Services on or about May 24, 2018, except for a brief period of time when he served as a member of MCU’s Board in or about 2008. From at least in or about 2012 through 2016, while serving as an MCU Board member and while Wong was CEO, ASH received annually tens of thousands of dollars in reimbursements and other benefits from MCU, including airfare, hotels, food and entertainment expenses for her and a guest to attend conferences domestically and abroad, as well as payment for phone and cable bills, and electronic devices. According to New York banking law, the Supervisory Committee’s duties included supervision of the actions of MCU’s Board and officers. Ash, 62, a Brooklyn, New York resident, is a presiding judge of the Kings County Supreme Court, Commercial Division, and a former chair of MCU’s Board of Directors. Joseph Guagliardo allegedly abused his position as an MCU supervisory committee member to enrich himself and his family.”, According to the allegations contained in the two Complaints unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, publicly available information, and prior court filings:[1].