FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, March 15 – When Kevin Schuler, who pled guilty in the Buffalo Billions case, came up for sentencing on March 15 his lawyer Terrence Connors said his law firm has hired Schuler. To U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Valerie Caproni, Connors argued that Schuler will be of more use giving scared-straight talks at law schools and colleges than in jail.
Judge Caproni ultimately agreed, saying that perhaps Connors had a gremlin in her computer and this this in advance, sentencing Schuler to "time served" - one day, between 6 am and 3 pm - and 400 hours of community services, one third of which must be such talks. (She mentioned the Kiwanis and Lions Club).
Afterward Inner City Press asked Connors where Schuler might be teaching. UB, he mentioned, University of Buffalo - and quickly emphasized that he does NOT have a gremlin in Judge Caproni's computer. Which is a good thing since in other case, for example a Bronx mother who had twenty kilos of narcotics in the trunk of her used Saab, much longer sentences are given. But Schuler cooperated, even helping to exculpate another indicted defendant, and lost friends in the process. Connors said Buffalo is not a small town - it is a big room. Caproni's courtroom is smaller than some other SDNY judges', but there were three or four reporters for this sentencing, unlike for the Bronx mothers. Sometimes New York City can be too big...
Ealier on March 15 an NYPD officer who blew the whistle on cheating in promotion exams faced blow-back himself on March 15 in the SDNY
Jonathan Blatt is asking SDNY Judge William H. Pauley to restore his status as a probationary Lieutenant; the NYPD's lawyer said there are sexual harassment complaints against Blatt. The City's filings says Blatt "is charged with violation of NYPD rules prohibiting sexual harassment and the creation of a hostile work environment. The allegations against plaintiff include comments regarding threesomes and'blumkins,' a particular sexual act, to a female service member."
While some call it a case of the "Bad Lieutenant," Blatt says his termination was retaliation, casting a chilling effect on himself and other officers to challenge the department. Cases going both ways were cited -- HANAC(101 F 3d 877), about the Mayor's decision, and Bartels v. Incorporated Village of Lloyd, 751 F Supp 2d 387 at 397. Judge Pauley reserved decision. The case is Blatt v. City of New York, 19 Civ. 1227 (WHP).
