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Stringer's lawyer: No prison time or probation for ex-judge

Staff photo by GORDON DEMPSEY

Christy Yamanaka said Judge Stringer helped her hide assets from creditors at a time when she had court judgments against her totaling about $315,000.

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By STEVE ANDREWS | News Channel 8
and ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2009

Updated:

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  Thomas Stringer

TAMPA - Former state appeals court judge Thomas Stringer should not receive any prison time or probation for committing bank fraud, Stringer's lawyer says in court papers.

Stringer, who pleaded guilty to the charge in August, lied on a mortgage application to help a stripper hide her financial assets. He is scheduled to be sentenced today. Stringer has retired from the bench and lost his license to practice law. Under his plea agreement, he will be required to forfeit $222,000.

This, argues lawyer John F. Lauro in a sentencing memorandum, is punishment enough.

"Mr. Stringer's false statement on a mortgage application represents an aberration from a life of integrity and selfless service in the community," Lauro wrote. "His actions in no way involved a misuse of his judicial position, nor did they result in a financial loss to anyone. In every stage of his career, Mr. Stringer worked tirelessly to help those in need and to be an example of honor and integrity."

Stringer's career began to unravel after stripper Christy Yamanaka, who danced in a famous New York club, told News Channel 8 and The Tampa Tribune about their 13-year relationship.

He and Yamanaka met at the old Malio's restaurant on South Dale Mabry Highway in 1995, when she was working as a dancer at 2001 Odyssey adult club. She said the relationship had been sexual, but the married judge denied that.

Yamanaka said the judge helped her hide assets from creditors at a time when she had court judgments against her totaling about $315,000. The judge has said her money went into bank accounts he opened in his name because she had terrible credit.

Yamanaka said today that anything less than the maximum prison sentence is unfair. She is convinced both she and the judge did several things wrong and he should be investigated further.

"Before they finalize it, I want them to look at it one more time, even if you have to postpone it," she said. "He had many, many times to think over what is wrong and what is right"

Stringer purchased a house in Hawaii with Yamanaka. He left her name off the mortgage and provided false information on the loan application. Yamanaka contends Stringer cheated her out of money on the sale of the Hawaii house. Stringer has said he gave her more than her share.

Yamanaka says she placed Stringer on such a high level, and when he betrayed her trust she considered suicide.

"I thought of him as a father. He treated me like a daughter and I treated him like a father," she said. "I don't think that anybody can think or tell or imagine what kind of pain that I have been through."

If Stringer gets no jail time, Yamanaka said she plans to write a book revealing her encounters and dealings with the former judge.

Stringer, 65, said during his guilty plea hearing that he is being treated for depression and anxiety as a result of the case.

Although bank fraud can result in up to 30 years behind bars, under his plea agreement, federal sentencing guidelines calculated by attorneys in his case call for between 0 and 6 months in prison.
The prosecution has agreed to recommend a sentence at the low end of the applicable range. In addition, the prosecution has agreed to recommend a minimal fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill has said his office approved the probation recommendation because the amount of money lost by the victim affects the level of punishment. And in this case, there was no loss to the bank because the house was sold at a profit.

In the sentencing memorandum, Lauro recounted Stringer's upbringing and years of service to the community, while he broke racial barriers in law school and as a judge.

Former federal and state prosecutor Lee Atkinson says the ex-judge's lawyers have done a remarkably good job positioning Stringer for a lighter sentence.

First, the plea agreement with the government involves only one charge, it says the bank suffered no loss, and Stringer took responsibility for his actions.

The government has also lowered Stringer's level in the sentencing guidelines because of his acceptance of responsibility.

Atkinson said federal judges usually follow recommendations in plea agreements.

But, he added, "The fact is he knew better by training, by experience, by his oath as a lawyer and secondly as a judge, someone who himself at one point or another has sat in judgment on other people and their problems."

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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