A veteran New York State judge entangled in a police investigation whose property was raided by federal agents two weeks ago, was found dead Tuesday morning at his home near Buffalo, his attorney said.
John Michalski, an acting Erie County Supreme Court Justice, died of an apparent suicide, according to attorney Terry Connors. Michalski was 61 years old.
Police in Amherst, where Michalski lived, declined to comment.
Connors said the last time he spoke with Michalski was Saturday in a meeting that lasted several hours. He seemed “to be fine. He was strong and he was participating in the meeting,” Connors added.
Michalski, appointed to the job in 2006, had returned to duty in January after taking medical leave following an apparent suicide attempt in February 2021, Connors said.
At the time, local news reports and video obtained by CBS affiliate WIVB-TV he discovered that Michalski had gotten in the way of a slow-moving tanker train. He was hospitalized with a serious leg injury.
Connors said Michalski had to meet conditions set by the state court system before he could be reinstated.
He was subjected to “a series of tests and evaluations by the Office of Court Administration,” Connors said, and “performed well in all of them.”
His apparent suicide attempt last year occurred on the same day as a former client and family friend, Peter Gerace Jr., was arrested by federal agents in Florida. Gerace, owner of a strip club near Buffalo and nephew of a alleged Buffalo mob bossHe was indicted on charges related to drug and sex trafficking and the bribery of a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
According to an indictment obtained by NBC affiliate WGRZ, bribes were paid to the agent, Joseph Bongiovanni, “to shield (the strip club) from federal narcotics investigations.”
Federal prosecutors last month charged Gerace and Bongiovanni with conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Both men are awaiting trial and have denied the allegations.
While federal agents were in contact with Michalski about his friendship with Gerace, no charges were filed against the judge, Connors said.
Michalski had also been investigated by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct regarding how much he was paid to perform Gerace’s wedding. according to The Buffalo News.
It’s unclear why state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the New York State Police and the state Attorney General’s Office, executed a search warrant at Michalski’s home last month. A Justice Department spokeswoman said in an email Wednesday that the agency neither confirms nor denies the investigations.
Connors said there was an outpouring of support for Michalski following the news of his death. Colleagues and friends in his legal circles considered him a well-respected jurist, also known for his infectious laugh and his love for his wife and his four children, Connors said.
He once told a gambling-addicted mother who was facing four years in prison for stealing from her son that he would give her parole instead because “you deserve a chance at redemption.” The Buffalo News reported in 2012.
“He treated everyone with respect,” Connors said. “He was the kind of judge that you would be thankful that he was overseeing your case.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call National Lifeline for Suicide Prevention at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Reference-www.nbcnews.com