New York Paralegal Blog

Earlier today, former Queens County assemblyman Jimmy Meng was arrested on a federal wire fraud charge for soliciting $80,000 in cash from a state court defendant and falsely claiming that he would use the money to bribe prosecutors in the New York County District Attorney’s Office in Manhattan to obtain a reduced sentence.

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, George Speranza, the operator of a marketing company that created and published Internet websites, pleaded guilty to a perjury charge and admitted that he gave false testimony before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with the SEC’s investigation of Spongetech Delivery Systems, Inc. When sentenced by United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry, Speranza faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The guilty plea was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. As alleged in a superseding indictment and other court filings by the government, between approximately January 2007 and May 2010, the chief officers of Spongetech, together with others, executed a fraudulent scheme to (a) publicly report false and materially overstated sales figures to create artificial demand for, and increase the share price and trading volume of, Spongetech common stock; (b) iss...

WOBURN – A New York man has been sentenced after pleaded guilty to murder charges in connection with the shooting death of Justin Cosby, 21, of Cambridge, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today. Jason Aquino, 21, of Manhattan, New York, pleaded guilty on March 24 in Middlesex Superior Court to charges of manslaughter, and willfully misleading a Grand Jury. Today, Middlesex Superior Court Judge Howard Whitehead sentenced the defendant to 18 to 20 years in state prison on the manslaughter charge and 4 to 5 years in state prison on the willfully misleading a Grand Jury charge. “On behalf of Justin, his mother and sister, his entire family and circle of friends, we continue to hold all those accountable for the killing of Justin Cosby,” District Attorney Leone said. “Our efforts continue as we turn our attention to the sentencing of Blayn Jiggetts, and the trial of Brittany Smith.” According to authorities, on Monday, May 18, 2009 at approximately 4:48 p....

MEDFORD– A Medford woman has been arraigned on a charge of murder in connection with the stabbing death of her husband, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today. Shawntina Burston, 39, of Medford, was arraigned today in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on the charge of first degree murder. Middlesex Superior Court Judge S. Jane Haggerty ordered the defendant held without bail. Her next court date is May 25 for a pretrial conference. According to authorities, on January 30, at approximately 10:36 pm, Medford Police were dispatched to 108 Exchange Avenue, for a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, Officers discovered the victim, Troy Burston, 34, of Medford, outside lying in a snow bank and evidencing an obvious stab wound. The victim was transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The defendant, who is the victim’s wife, was taken into custody at the scene. Authorities allege that the defendant and the victim began arguing...