NY judge dies by suicide weeks after federal agents search his home

A New York State choose died by suicide Tuesday weeks after federal brokers searched his dwelling. 

John L. Michalski, an performing justice of the state Supreme Court docket, was discovered useless at his dwelling in Amherst, New York, a suburb outdoors of Buffalo, Tuesday earlier than midday, his lawyer, Terrence Connors, confirmed to The New York Instances. Connors stated the 61-year-old died by suicide, describing his loss as a “tragedy,” including that “it could be tough to discover a justice who was extra revered” than Michalski. 

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Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the court docket system, advised the Instances that Amherst police suggested officers about Michalski’s demise however declined to supply extra particulars, referring inquiries to legislation enforcement. In line with his official bio on the state court docket web site, Michalski was named to the Court docket of Claims in 2006 and as an performing state Supreme Court docket justice later that yr. 

Citing two authorities sources, The Buffalo Information reported that legislation enforcement executed a search warrant on Michalski’s dwelling final month in connection to a federal investigation into the choose and his spouse over potential tax crimes associated to an internet retail clothes and jewellery enterprise operated out of the residence. Neither Michalski nor his spouse had been charged in connection to the probe. 

Federal authorities had additionally continued to analyze Michalski over his shut friendship with Peter Gerace Jr., the proprietor of Pharaoh’s Gents’s Membership in Cheektowaga, outdoors of Buffalo. The Miami Herald beforehand described Gerace because the nephew of reputed Buffalo mob boss Joseph A. Todaro Jr. 

Peter Gerace Jr. was arrested final yr in southern Florida on federal conspiracy to commit intercourse monitoring, bribery and drug distribution prices.
(Broward Sheriff’s Workplace)

Michalski reportedly tried suicide as soon as earlier than in February 2021 by mendacity on prepare tracks at an Amtrak station within the Buffalo suburb of Depew. A freight prepare handed over him, inflicting severe leg accidents. 

He took a depart of absence from the $210,900-a-year seat on the bench however resumed work in January of this yr.  

The choose first tried to kill himself on the identical day Gerace was arrested in Florida on federal conspiracy to commit intercourse monitoring, bribery and drug distribution prices. The federal superseding indictment didn’t title Michalski, however it did accuse a federal DEA agent named Joseph Bongiovanni of utilizing his place to protect mates and associates, together with Gerace, from felony investigations within the Buffalo-area. 

Gerace has since been transferred again to the Western District of New York. 

When you or somebody you understand is having ideas of suicide, please contact the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).