The former head of the city correction officers’ union deserves a new corruption trial because the star witness against him lied on the stand and has been accused of several fraud schemes since then, according to court papers filed Tuesday.
Norman Seabrook also wants a court order forcing federal prosecutors to reveal what the FBI has learned from an ongoing probe of Jona Rechnitz — a former fund-raiser for Mayor Bill de Blasio — or authorizing subpoenas so Seabrook’s lawyer can investigate on his own.
Seabrook’s Manhattan federal court filing cites three lawsuits pending against Rechnitz in Los Angeles that “set forth allegations of stunning breadth, reflecting [his] continuing course of fraudulent conduct, as well as boasts that he was untouchable because the Government was dependent on his continuing assistance.”
The alleged scams involve Rechnitz’ Jadelle Jewelry and Diamond company, which in December was revealed by The Post to have sponsored a showcase event in Los Angeles that was attended by Kim Kardashian and her mom, Kris Jenner.
Seabrook’s filing notes that one of the suits against Rechnitz alleges that video of the event — which was obtained by The Post — “most likely depicted stolen and fraudulently obtained goods from…various diamond merchants.”
It also says that Rechnitz — described as a “scam artist ne plus ultra” — falsely told jurors that he “had turned over a new leaf and that his honesty was assured by the terms of his cooperation agreement.”
Jona RechnitzWilliam Farrington
Rechnitz — who Manhattan prosecutors have called one of their “most important and prolific white-collar cooperating witnesses” — was sentenced in December to five months in prison and five months of home confinement but hasn’t yet begun serving the time.
Seabrook was found guilty in August 2018 of taking a $60,000 bribe in a Ferragamo bag from Rechnitz to invest nearly $20 million of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association with the since-defunct Platinum Partners hedge fund.
Seabrook was sentenced to 58 months in prison but remains free pending appeal.
A spokesman for Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey Berman declined to comment and Rechnitz’ lawyers didn’t return email messages.
Related Post:
- Disgraced ex-jail union boss Norman Seabrook doesn’t deserve retrial, prosecutors say
- Ex-jail union head Norman Seabrook must go to prison by December, judge rules
- Corrupt ex-union boss Norman Seabrook has to serve sentence in prison: judge
- Norman Seabrook asks to serve prison term from home amid COVID-19
- Norman Seabrook caught maskless despite claims he’s scared of COVID-19
- NYC jail officers oust acting union president following Seabrook scandal
- Teachers union chief cites Stuyvesant HS in ripping standardized testing
- Tally Of Lies: Donald Trump Told 30,000 Lies During His Presidency – That’s 21 A Day
- Mali: Accused Refuses to Enter Plea As War Crimes Trial Starts At ICC
- Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex crimes trial delayed until the fall