Judge goes very easy on O’Brien, aides

Says former Probation officials were part of “culture of corruption”

By Jack Sullivan 0 Comments Nov 13, 2014

A federal judge on Thursday ignored sentencing guidelines and the recommendations of prosecutors – as well as his own history – before handing out much lighter-than-expected sentences to former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and two top deputies, putting the onus for the “sophistry and hypocrisy” of political patronage squarely on the shoulders of the state’s(...)

Prosecutors drop remaining charges

By Jack Sullivan 0 Comments Nov 12, 2014

Prosecutors in the federal trial of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and his two top deputies said on Wednesday they will not pursue bribery charges after the judge indicated he would hand down substantial prison time for O’Brien and his aides on their racketeering and mail fraud convictions. The announcement by Assistant US Attorney Fred(...)

Judge: ex-Probation commissioner ‘abused position of public trust’

By Jack Sullivan 0 Comments Nov 6, 2014

A federal judge said on Thursday that John O’Brien’s prison time will be significantly increased because the convicted former Probation commissioner “abused a position of public trust.” O’Brien was convicted this summer of mail fraud, racketeering, and conspiracy charges in connection with a rigged hiring system he ran at the Probation Department designed to curry(...)

US Attorney says court officer spreadsheets not new

By Jack Sullivan 0 Comments Nov 5, 2014

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday dismissed claims by attorneys for former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and two top deputies that they had “newly discovered evidence” that a top judge lied under oath about legislative influence in hiring, saying Judge Robert Mulligan testified “ad naseum” about the existence of sponsor lists for court officers. Defense attorneys on(...)

Probation defendants seeking new trial

By Andy Metzger 0 Comments Nov 4, 2014

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE Defense attorneys, who represent three former probation officials convicted of secretly rigging the hiring system, are accusing former Chief Justice of Administration and Management Robert Mulligan of “likely” testifying untruthfully in the trial. Mulligan was a key witness in the trial of former Probation Commissioner John O’Brien and two former deputies,(...)

Claim jurors turned into ‘mini G-Men and Women’

By Jack Sullivan State Government 0 Comments Sep 2, 2014

Lawyers for the three Probation officials convicted of racketeering and mail fraud filed motions on Tuesday seeking their clients’ acquittal, in part claiming the federal trial judge’s decision to allow jurors to ask questions of witnesses turned the men and women of the jury into “mini G-Men and Women.” Jeffrey Denner, one of the attorneys(...)

Probation juror says DeLeo should have been on trial

Calls Walsh ‘irresponsible, reckless, and borderline ridiculous’

By Bruce Mohl State Government 1 Comment Jul 31, 2014

One of the jurors in the Probation Department corruption trial sent an email to a radio talk show host on Thursday saying he felt House Speaker Robert DeLeo should have been on trial instead of former Probation commissioner John O’Brien and two of his top aides. O’Brien and two top deputies, Elizabeth Tavares and William(...)

Conflicts abound over sentencing

By Jack Sullivan State Government 0 Comments Jul 30, 2014

The fallout from the Probation scandal appears to have gone beyond state lines and could have an impact on sentencing for former commissioner John O’Brien and his two top deputies. O’Brien, Elizabeth Tavares, and William Burke III are scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 12 after a jury found them guilty of racketeering and mail fraud(...)

Q&A on Probation case

A second trial looms but what are the chances of it happening?

By Bruce Mohl and Jack Sullivan State Government 0 Comments Jul 29, 2014

The following information was gleaned from discussions with a variety of sources close to the Probation Department case involving former commissioner John O’Brien and his top aides, Elizabeth Tavares and William Burke III. The three defendants were found guilty of various charges last week. Another trial is possible, but the situation is fluid and legal(...)

DeLeo criticizes Ware, calls him unprofessional

But Speaker cites selective evidence to make his case

By Bruce Mohl State Government 0 Comments Jul 28, 2014

House Speaker Robert DeLeo over the weekend lashed out at Paul Ware for suggesting a statement Ware made in 2010 should not be construed as clearing the Speaker of any wrongdoing in the Probation Department scandal. DeLeo, in a statement released late Saturday afternoon, said it was puzzling why Ware, the independent counsel who investigated(...)