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Judicial Commission Files Charges Against Appellate Judge

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The commission accuses Judge Thomas E. Stringer Sr. of obtaining a no-interest loan of at least $50,000 from Christy Yamanaka and not disclosing it.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 13, 2009

Updated: 01/13/2009 05:07 pm

TAMPA - A pioneering judge's career is on the line after the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission today filed formal charges against him regarding his financial relationship with an exotic dancer.

Thomas E. Stringer Sr. was the first black circuit judge in Hillsborough County and now sits on the 2nd District Court of Appeal, reviewing the decisions of lower Florida courts.

If he is found to have helped dancer Christy Yamanaka hide her assets from creditors, he could lose his post, the commission said.

The six-page filing from the commission comes after News Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune outlined Stringer's and Yamanaka's financial dealings last year.

Stringer's lawyer, J. David Bogenschutzof Fort Lauderdale, said that the judge had received a "notice of inquiry" from the commission several months ago and was "very disappointed" that the charges were filed.

"You're never really prepared for something like this, especially after the long and meritorious career that he's had," Bogenschutz said. "We're looking forward to deposing her [Yamanaka] and to have the JQC find out the level of her credibility.

"The central piece of this puzzle is Christy Yamanaka," said Bogenschutz. "Until we get a chance to talk to her and depose her at length we are not in a position to say where this case is headed."

The JQC action against Stringer is like a civil lawsuit. The agency has counsel and so does the judge.

"At this stage Judge Stringer is about to embark on the discovery process," said Bogenschutz, who has done a substantial amount of JQC work.

Bogenschutz expects the case to last several months up to a year. He said the JQC called last night and informed the judge it would file charges today.

Yamanaka's attorney, Joseph Tacopinaof New York City, issued a brief statement on the filing. "If nothing else, clearly they found some of her allegations were credible," he said. "What she said is easily corroborated and verifiable."

The filing states that probable cause exists for formal proceedings to be instituted against Stringer on the following allegations:

*He opened bank accounts in his name and the name of a friend of Yamanaka's to hide her assets and income from 2004 to 2007, when she was obligated to pay two creditors about $315,000 plus interest.

*He allowed himself to be listed as the sole titleholder of a house in Hawaii purchased with Yamanaka's money to hide her interest in the property from creditors.

*He allowed Yamanaka to use bank accounts in his name to make large cash deposits and transfer money to other accounts.

*He obtained a rent-controlled apartment in New York in his name on Yamanaka's behalf.

*He obtained a no-interest loan of at least $50,000 from Yamanaka that he failed to disclose or repay.

*He did not disclose several gifts from Yamanaka, including an all-expense-paid vacation in Las Vegas, a stay at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, a customized 2001 Mercedes and two Rolex watches for the judge and his wife.

Stringer has 20 days to answer the charges. If substantiated, the actions violate the Code of Judicial Conduct, the filing states.

Brooke Kennerly,the commission's executive director, said the charges will be reviewed before a hearing panel within several months. The six-member panel will decide whether the charges are substantiated and recommend Stringer for a reprimand, fine, suspension or removal from office. The Florida Supreme Court decides what the final action will be.

In an interview with The Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8 last year, Stringer said that he and Yamanaka were business partners in the purchase and sale of the house in Hawaii but that he was not helping her to hide money. He said he allowed her to use accounts that were in his name because "her credit was terrible."

Public records show the judge's son, attorney Daryl Stringer, has represented Yamanaka during bankruptcy proceedings.

Pat Anderson, a former prosecutor with the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission, told the Tribune and News Channel 8 last year that a judge could be perceived as acting as a person's lawyer if a judge allows someone to use his bank accounts so he can help manage the other person's money. A sitting judge cannot practice law.

Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Stringer to the 2nd District Court of Appeal in February 1999. In 1987, Gov. Bob Martinez appointed Stringer the first black circuit judge in Hillsborough County.

News Channel 8 reporter Steve Andrews and Tribune reporter Tom Brennan contributed to this report. Information from the Tribune archives was used in this report. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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