Mastro Judge Strikes Down Plea Agreement

[Yankeefan51]

FORMER HOBBY-KINGPIN BILL MASTRO SET TO PLEAD GUILTY IN CHICAGO FEDERAL COURT TODAY

As widely reported back in January hobby big Bill Mastro is set to appear today before a Federal Judge in an Illinois Court to plead guilty to at least one count of fraud brought against him in a 33-page Federal indictment that was unsealed back in August of 2012.

Mastro’s defense attorney, Michael Monico, did not return calls for comment regarding the hearing in which his client is expected to cooperate with the government as part of a deal he cut with Federal prosecutors Nancy Podesta and Steven Grimes. Mastro is expected to appear before Judge Ronald A. Guzman who replaced Judge Suzanne B. Conlon back in January.

Via Twitter the New York Daily News reports from the courtroom that Judge Guzman “nixes Bill Mastro plea deal, rips prosecutors for not requiring ex-memorabilia king to cooperate against other defendants.” Based on the plea deal prosecutors agreed to, Mastro would have only served 30 months in prison.

[Leon]

That darned O'keefe. It's all his fault!! I find this a bit surprising though as I thought that judges usually went along with prosecutor's plea deals. This is going to get more ugly (for some) it seems.

[ullmandds]

Let em pay i say...the liars, cheaters and thieves need to be punished!

[Sean1125]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Let em pay i say...the liars, cheaters and thieves need to be punished!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by Leon

That darned O'keefe. It's all his fault!! I find this a bit surprising though as I thought that judges usually went along with prosecutor's plea deals. This is going to get more ugly (for some) it seems.

Judges usually go along with the plea agreement. However in cases in ok inv multiple co-defendants it is not uncommon for a judge to require the defendant to testify truthfully against co-defendants. I am honestly surprised that the AUSA didn't require his cooperation as part of a plea deal, especially given the significance of this case to the sports memorabilia industry.

It's about time.

I hope this, and other judicial rulings pertaining to AHs, is a sign of things to come.

[calvindog]

Weak. The US Attorney's office in Chicago should be ashamed of themselves. When a judge is tougher than the prosecutors are toward a non-cooperating defendant, well, that is a disgrace. Mastro had his priest there and surely he will claim he has an alcohol problem in order to further reduce his sentence. Pitiful.

[Runscott]

You think he'll tell them where the diamonds are?

[Wymers Auction]

Originally Posted by bubblebathgirl

It's about time.

I hope this, and other judicial rulings pertaining to AHs, is a sign of things to come.

Were you once kidnapped by an AH?

[Brian Van Horn]

I like this judge!

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by Wymers Auction

Were you once kidnapped by an AH?

That's very funny! One thing you can be sure of, he doesn't have Stockholm Syndrome.

[jdr424]

The indictment was for Mastro, Doug Allen, and Mark Theotikos. There was a 4th (main) person involved that was not included in this indictment and also unnamed. The indictment named him Co-schemer A. Who is the 4th person?