NEW YORK. – Despite acknowledging the ex- councilman Miguel Martinez’s career, upbringing and contributions to his community, and the dozens of letters sent to court by various institutions, personalities, leaders and activists asking for clemency, Federal judge Paul Austin Crooty said he had to send the former official to jail, to send a clear message to the city’s crooked politicians.
Martinez, whose political career was expected to flourish, was sentenced yesterday to 5 years in prison, half in a jail cell and the other half on probation. He’ll have to return the $106,000 dollars he’s accused of pocketing and pay a US$3,000 fine.
In a hearing marked by drama and tears Martinez’s supporters and close friends jammed Federal Court room 20 C in a show of support yesterday afternoon, among them Bronx assemblyman, the Dominican Nelson Castro, ex Council post candidate in Martinez’s same district Rubén Darío Vargas, ex candidate to by district 7 Council post Juan Erazo, the business leaders Miguel Acosta, Placido Rodriguez and David Rivas.
Crooty said despite the ex councilman’s dedication to university studies since he arrived in the U.S. and serving his community for decades, he couldn’t allow the lack of honesty in public service to go unpunished. “It’s for this reason that I’ve decided to condemn you to 60 months in prison, of which you, Mr. Martinez, will have to go to jail for half that term, although it’s obvious that if you assume a good behavior, could leave in less.”
Written by: xwill7, 16 Dec 2009 11:35 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
What a jerk. His actions will make more people think twice before voting for another Dominican
Written by: vacanos, 16 Dec 2009 11:48 AM
From: United States, An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
Amazing
Written by: lmejia, 16 Dec 2009 11:52 AM
From: Canada, Toronto
Now...if our Justice system would start doing the same!! I know, I know....maybe in a millions years but I can dream!!
Written by: xwill7, 16 Dec 2009 11:53 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
he took only 100k and got 5 years?? In DR he would have gotten a slap on the wrist
Written by: Juango, 16 Dec 2009 11:56 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Poor Miguel, crying to the Judge...." but that is how it is done back home on the Island" !!
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
Imejia I grew up in Cabbagetrown and I did not know of that many corrupt Tories but they probably vote NDP now ......or are you referring to the bottom feeders and dirt ball politicos of the DR where corruption is a way of life from birth
From: United States
You are right, what a jerk.
He had everything going for him and he had to let his inbred entitlement corrupt gene take over.
Oh well, welcome to America, I know you would have been revered by your country men in the DR, not here.
Written by: dominica, 16 Dec 2009 12:03 PM
From: United States
Not sure if this article is in favor or against. regardless, his sentence reflects his actions. Well deserved. From experience this guy is a real detriment to the interests of his constituents. Example, on 174th street there was a crooked slumlord who bought a building that was being occupied by 95% Dominican tenants. All were paying their rent but on a rent controlled basis. The new landlord decided to evict all of the tenants rendering about 20 Dominican Families homeless. To put it short, the guy was receiving campaign donations from the landlord so who do you think Miguel sided with? Definitely not the dominicans who voted for him that's for sure. In the end, the tenants won the law suit and the landlord was forced to make repairs and turn the heat back on, etc. But this guy is a classact. Don't believe anything favorable you hear of this character.
Written by: xwill7, 16 Dec 2009 12:22 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Typical DR thinking. He was looking at his short term future and not his long term. This clown would have made the 100k extra with a some years of hard work.
Written by: lmejia, 16 Dec 2009 12:27 PM
From: Canada, Toronto
Blu....
It was meant for the DR politicians!! :)
I dont personally like the tories up here..lol...have always voted liberal!!
Written by: Lopez31, 16 Dec 2009 12:59 PM
From: United States
awwww Miguelito don't worry. Look at the bright side you can now go back to DR and run for president.
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
Just kidding you......, PM with the names of the best Dominican restaurants in Toronto I want to go next time I visit my mom
Written by: anthonyC, 16 Dec 2009 2:50 PM
From: United States
"Martinez’s supporters and close friends jammed Federal Court room 20 C in a show of support yesterday afternoon, among them Bronx assemblyman, the Dominican Nelson Castro, ex Council post candidate in Martinez’s same district Rubén Darío Vargas, ex candidate to by district 7 Council post Juan Erazo, the business leaders Miguel Acosta, Placido Rodriguez and David Rivas."
And look at the scum who support this crook.
Written by: juanb, 16 Dec 2009 4:01 PM
From: Dominican Republic
His only mistake was that he thought he was here.
From: United States
xwill7, absolutely on the mark.
Dominicans look day to day only.
He sold his integrity for 100K? Imagine.
And you are correct, over his tenure; he would have made a million.
Well now he can be a DR politician.
From: United States
60 months is good. He'll serve 85% of that sentence. There is no "time-off" for "good behavior" given to federal offenders. Federal officials do not reward you for so called "good behavior" as they believe when you come to prison you suppose to behave good. We have a remedy for inmates who misbehave. We sent them to one of the numerous federal prisons around the U.S. Far away from their families, where they get few visits or little or no contact with the outside world. This is enough to make a person behave right in prison.
As for this Dominican. He got exactly what he deserved. They culture of deceit, corruption and dishonestly is a way of life in the D.R. and this is merely another example of it being brought to America. All the so called councilmen who acted as character witnesses for him are also crooks who need to be investigated and I hope the proecutor who brought this sleaze bag to justice also does the same to the remainder of his dominican cohorts. Brasilenos4ever!!!!!
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
Give him the chair !!
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
and sit josean in his lap !
Written by: josean, 16 Dec 2009 6:25 PM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
And he wears a PURPLE tie!
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
Further proof that good pay and education do not deliminate the cultural pre-disposition to lie and cheat.
Everyone here will disagree with this point but, as a Dominican, I can legitimately make this statement: Dominicans, in general, lack the necessary integrity to govern, legislate. They should probably outsource these functions to the Dutch or the British.
I, for one, do not care to see the exportation of our system to the USA, or anywhere else for that matter.
This generation in particular, and the last 3-5 in general, is nothing but a bunch of imbeciles, liars and cheaters and corrupt bunch. They should be hanged from the nearest lampost [after a five-minute trial, of course], or given the chair. Feeding them to the sharks would also be a suitable alternative.
We need a cultural revolution in the whole sense of the term, and next year could not be soon enough! Then, let's work on next generation and instill in them good values.
MJEV.
From: United States, Fresh Water Paradise-NY Finger Lakes
BTW, good, good riddance!!!!!!
What an imbecile!
Written by: THINK, 17 Dec 2009 12:09 AM
From: United States, SDQ -- Mia --NY
"...COULDN'T ALLOW THE LACK OF HONESTY IN PUBLIC SERVICE TO GO UNPUNISHED."
GREAT SAYING.
But, does all Dominican politicians understand the meaning of this saying?
From: United States
hey oupala will be on the chair with josean and maritinez.
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
BN you could sit in Poopi lap {not that there is anything wrong with that }
From: United States
you can take the boy out of the DR, but you'll never clean the DR out of the boy! lying, stealing, corruption are the L,S,C factors in the Dominican DNA. I'm beginning to think politicians from Chicago posess the same genetic pattern, after all look at Obama and his klan
From: United States
DoggPound, Agreed. Chicago politicians are of the same poor breed.
There have been more Chicago politicians that have been sentenced to jail than any where else in the US.
They are truly the worst, at least we put them in jail. When we catch them.
From: United States
For those of you that thought that just becuase of him, people would not vote for another Dominican, I wonder who you came to that conclusion. But any who... there is another Dominican that was voted in by the people, who took over that life's City Council position. There were other Dominicans that ran for other City Council positions in other city districts that also won.
Written by: xwill7, 17 Dec 2009 11:36 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
gmiller,
why do you think Chicago has the highest sales tax in the nation? crooks
Written by: xwill7, 17 Dec 2009 11:50 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
this clown looks like the guy that pumps the propane into my tanks...
Written by: Escott, 17 Dec 2009 12:04 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Cabrera and Sosua a 2 days a month for payday
Another Dominican in a US JAIL. No surprise, corruption and greed are ideals that people look up to here. More aspire to be polititians than ball players since te money is way better and your people look up to you for stealing from your children.
Written by: ggmoya, 17 Dec 2009 1:29 PM
From: United States, New York
josean good observation!!!!
From: United States, New York City
All the responses here, typical. All of you seem to know of how disgusting Dominican politicians can be but you have no idea of what's been transpiring in the great state of New York regarding its political class and this story has to be viewed in that context. We're talking about NYC, not Monte Plata. There is endemic corruption here in the states and it is NOT limited to politicos of Dominican origin. Just google Joseph Bruno and Hiram Monserrate just to get an idea of what's goinf on with our politicians ACROSS ethnic lines. New York politics are rotten to the core and the state has been suffering some time as a result.
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
How about your good and great friend " Charley the scumbubble Rangel "
From: United States, New York City
How about your good and great friend " Charley the scumbubble Rangel "
Another NY poltitician involved in dubious dealings. It's not a Dominican thing, the poltical corruption over here. It's systematic. But one would have to know something of New York besides how to get to Time Square to realize as much.
From: Dominican Republic, No Spin Zone
Cibby how do you get to Carnegie Hall ?
From: United States, New York City
Cibby how do you get to Carnegie Hall ?
You practice.
Written by: ggmoya, 18 Dec 2009 3:25 PM
From: United States, New York
If you want to talk about New York Politicians or the American Political Machine then go to a forum or blog where that's the subject. Here, we're talking about Dominican Corruption. Why? Because it's called DOMINICAN TODAY!!!!! I live in New York City and I have lived in Dominican Republic. I rather live in New York City's corruptness a million times more than in the Dominican's. Getting swindled and swindling is a religion out there, a religion that too many people out there practice, whether they're politicians or not. Out there, while your "best friend" is sticking her hand in your back pocket, your sister is making sure you don't notice, that's how tough it is. It's this "survival of the most crooked" type of mentality that will have you going nuts in no time if you're not used to that. As a New Yorker, I swore I knew it all. Go to Dominican Republic, you'll soon realize that you don't know JACK!!!
From: United States, New York City
"If you want to talk about New York Politicians or the American Political Machine then go to a forum or blog where that's the subject. Here, we're talking about Dominican Corruption. Why? Because it's called DOMINICAN TODAY!!!!! "
In case you have not noticed this article concerns a NEW YORK politician that is of Dominican descent. Yes, this is Dominican Today and this story is relevant in that context because as I already stated the poittician is of Dominican descent but this a New York story more than anything else.
Written by: ggmoya, 18 Dec 2009 4:34 PM
From: United States, New York
Miguel Martinez IS Dominican. He was born in Dominican Republic and came to live in the United States when he was 18 years old. He lived in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. He was old enough to know and see how Dominican Republic works. I know "good" people from Dominican Republic who do outrageous things in New York to make money thinking that they can get away with it because everyone with political connections gets away with murder in Dominican Republic. We are NOT talking about New York, we're talking about Dominican corruption and how the laws only apply to the poor. If you have not been swindled in Dominican Republic it's either because you haven't been there or you stay in a bubble when you're out there. You let your guard down for one second and you'll definitely pay for it. So, just to clarify, it may be a story based in New York but with roots in Dominican Republic because the protagonist here IS Dominican.
Written by: ggmoya, 18 Dec 2009 4:39 PM
From: United States, New York
By the way, that purple tie he wears is no coincidence. He obviously has political affiliations with the Political Party in power in Dominican Republic but not even Leonel could get him out of this. Since he did become a US Citizen by Naturalization, he will not be deported and that's just too bad because he belongs back in Dominican Republic where he can do what he knows how to do best, STEAL!!!!
From: United States
Only the poor go to jail in the Dominican Republic.
Martha Stewart and Bernie Madoff were not poor.
Where is this rampant corruption in New York? Tell the authorities someone will go to jail if it is true. Unlike the DR, EVER.
Written by: josean, 19 Dec 2009 1:00 PM
From: United States, Dedicating 4 more years to fighting the Dictatorship of the Narco PLD Mafia
ggmoya,
Being honest and telling the cold hard truth here on DT will earn you the wrath of the open and closeted LIE-onelitas.
However, there also many here on DT who don't wear "purple colored glasses” or drink PLD Purple KOOL-AID, so keep telling it like it is amigo!
From: United States, words of wisdom from the nutcracker
this guy got caught and went down for a mere chump change of 100 grand , if he would waited a while he could of been making twice has that , but like a typical dominican he took a propina now he will spent the next ten years getting anals probes
From: United States
All local pols are crooks, this one is dumber than the rest, he got caught...
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He had everything going for him and he had to let his inbred entitlement corrupt gene take over.
Oh well, welcome to America, I know you would have been revered by your country men in the DR, not here.
It was meant for the DR politicians!! :)
I dont personally like the tories up here..lol...have always voted liberal!!
And look at the scum who support this crook.
Dominicans look day to day only.
He sold his integrity for 100K? Imagine.
And you are correct, over his tenure; he would have made a million.
Well now he can be a DR politician.
As for this Dominican. He got exactly what he deserved. They culture of deceit, corruption and dishonestly is a way of life in the D.R. and this is merely another example of it being brought to America. All the so called councilmen who acted as character witnesses for him are also crooks who need to be investigated and I hope the proecutor who brought this sleaze bag to justice also does the same to the remainder of his dominican cohorts. Brasilenos4ever!!!!!
Further proof that good pay and education do not deliminate the cultural pre-disposition to lie and cheat.
Everyone here will disagree with this point but, as a Dominican, I can legitimately make this statement: Dominicans, in general, lack the necessary integrity to govern, legislate. They should probably outsource these functions to the Dutch or the British.
I, for one, do not care to see the exportation of our system to the USA, or anywhere else for that matter.
This generation in particular, and the last 3-5 in general, is nothing but a bunch of imbeciles, liars and cheaters and corrupt bunch. They should be hanged from the nearest lampost [after a five-minute trial, of course], or given the chair. Feeding them to the sharks would also be a suitable alternative.
We need a cultural revolution in the whole sense of the term, and next year could not be soon enough! Then, let's work on next generation and instill in them good values.
MJEV.
BTW, good, good riddance!!!!!!
What an imbecile!
"...COULDN'T ALLOW THE LACK OF HONESTY IN PUBLIC SERVICE TO GO UNPUNISHED."
GREAT SAYING.
But, does all Dominican politicians understand the meaning of this saying?
There have been more Chicago politicians that have been sentenced to jail than any where else in the US.
They are truly the worst, at least we put them in jail. When we catch them.
why do you think Chicago has the highest sales tax in the nation? crooks
Another NY poltitician involved in dubious dealings. It's not a Dominican thing, the poltical corruption over here. It's systematic. But one would have to know something of New York besides how to get to Time Square to realize as much.
You practice.
In case you have not noticed this article concerns a NEW YORK politician that is of Dominican descent. Yes, this is Dominican Today and this story is relevant in that context because as I already stated the poittician is of Dominican descent but this a New York story more than anything else.
Only the poor go to jail in the Dominican Republic.
Martha Stewart and Bernie Madoff were not poor.
Where is this rampant corruption in New York? Tell the authorities someone will go to jail if it is true. Unlike the DR, EVER.
Being honest and telling the cold hard truth here on DT will earn you the wrath of the open and closeted LIE-onelitas.
However, there also many here on DT who don't wear "purple colored glasses” or drink PLD Purple KOOL-AID, so keep telling it like it is amigo!