Convicted of Forging Judge's Order, Attorney Is Given 27-Month Sentence
Friday, March 24, 2006 at 8:57PM Federal judge says of attorney, 'I'm not sure that any rational lawyer would ever do anything like this'
Perry S. Reich, the Long Island, N.Y., attorney who stands convicted of forging a federal magistrate judge's order and lying to the government, was sentenced Friday to 27 months in prison after a judge described his plight as "disquieting" and unlike any case he had ever seen.
Reich, 57, was a respected attorney whose conviction stunned many in the legal community who knew him from his days as a clerk at the Appellate Division, 2nd Department, and at the Court of Appeals, and later as an appellate specialist with a varied practice.
Eastern District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis likened Reich's story to a Greek tragedy.
"I don't know why he did what he did -- I don't know if he knows why he did what he did," Judge Garaufis said. "I'm not sure that any rational lawyer would ever do anything like this. It defies logic."
Reich spoke briefly, expressing regret and asking the judge to consider that he had been a "good and honest lawyer" for 30 years.
"I'm standing here today with my career destroyed, my life in shambles," he said.
Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of between 63 and 78 months, or 6 1/2 years, while the Probation Department suggested between 27 and 31 months.
Note to self: Don't ever do this. Details here from the New York Law Journal via Law.com.
Reader Comments (1)
Raise your hand who is surprised at the NY Bar?
After all, they welcome repeat sex offenders.
After One-Year Suspension, Registered Sex Offender Is Reinstated to NYBar"New York LawyerBy John CaherMarch 24, 2006
Less than two months after the Assembly leadership agreed to pay $500,000to settle a claim in which a former legislative aide alleged she wasraped by J. Michael Boxley, the chamber's chief counsel, the AppellateDivision, Third Department, yesterday unanimously voted to reinstate him.
Mr. Boxley, then a top aide to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver,D-Manhattan, was arrested on rape charges in 2003. He subsequentlypleaded guilty to a misdemeanor sexual misconduct count.
He was fined $1,000, placed on probation for six years, required toregister as a sex offender and his law license was suspended for oneyear.
Yesterday, the Third Department reinstated Mr. Boxley with no objectionfrom the Committee on Professional Standards.
The victim had sued the Assembly in 2004, noting that Mr. Boxley had beenaccused of sexually assaulting another aide in 2001 and alleging that theleadership had failed to restrain and discipline its attorney. InJanuary, the Assembly agreed to settle the claim for $500,000.