News
John H. Kang, a once prominent entrepreneur in Tampa's technology community, is slated to face a federal jury next week on charges that he fraudulently inflated revenues while leading the software company Medical Manager Corp. in the late 1990s.
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Saying Thomas E. Stringer Sr. has already endured the public humiliation of losing his judgeship and law license, a federal judge on Friday ordered him to spend one year under supervision and to pay a $250 fine for bank fraud.
Stringer, a former appeals judge, admitted in August that he lied on a loan application for a Hawaiian residence he bought with a stripper.
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TAMPA - Former state appeals court Judge Thomas E. Stringer told a federal judge Friday he destroyed his career and position as community service leader by "one act of bad judgment."
But Stringer avoided any prison time for committing federal bank fraud to help a stripper he had known for years. Instead, he was sentenced to a year of probation, ordered to forfeit $222,000 and fined $250.
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Defense attorney John Lauro has helped former state Appeals Court Judge Thomas E. Stringer avoid active prison time over charges of bank fraud.
Lauro, who has handled various high-profile criminal matters, defended Stringer and was instrumental in reaching a plea arrangement under which prosecutors will recommend that Stringer receive probation and pay a small fine.
Stringer faced up to 30 years imprisonment for allegedly helping a client hide assets from creditors. Lauro called Stringer "an outstanding judge and public servant" and said "this ... was a private mistake that has been fully resolved."
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In November 2007, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty
to betting on NBA games, including games that he officiated, as well as
providing confidential information to others who bet on NBA games, a
serious violation of NBA regulations.
For four years, Donaghy placed personal bets on NBA games, and for at
least five months he advised gamblers on which teams to pick by
providing information about referee assignments, health of players, and
relationships between referees and players. He was paid to make picks on
the games, initially netting $2,000 for each correct pick and later he
earned up to $5,000. By committing these crimes, Donaghy has brought
into question the NBA’s ability to monitor and regulate their
referees.
John Lauro, his lawyer, stated that he believed Donaghy’s actions were
based on a gambling addiction that went untreated for too long.
Donaghy faces up to 25 years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines.
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Many of lawyer John Lauro’s cases involve white collar crimes;
because of this, he is often presented with the question of whether his
client is legally guilty. For Lauro, that question doesn’t matter. The
New York and Tampa-based lawyer doesn’t allow it to affect his ability
to work professionally and to the full extent of his knowledge and
resources.
In Lauro’s opinion, taking an unpopular position can be thrilling “because that really goes to the core of who you are as a lawyer.”
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