We should all be watch dogs over these political corrupted fools. If you want change we all must get involved wether it personnally effects or not. Why went untill the shoe is on your foot to start crying. Lets unite for our freedom, the most precious thing we could have, that was given to us by our Lord, God. Only thing will be able to heal this country and go forward. United we stand, divided we fall. Rose111 SINCERELY, DEBRA BLACKMON Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970822225553.00697c5c@net-lynx.com> X-Sender: paff@net-lynx.com X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.1 (32) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 1997 22:55:53 -0400 To: njlp@westnet.com From: "John T. Paff" Subject: Imbriani press release nets at least two articles Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" X-Info: Net-Lynx Internet - http://www.net-lynx.com/ Sender: owner-njlp@westnet.com Precedence: bulk A few days back, I distributed a press release that Citizens for Justice in Somerset County (of which I am president) issued concerning ex-Judge Imbriani's pension. The release caused a small article to appear in the NY Times metro section and the following article to appear in the Home News and Tribune. Also, I understand that it was also mentioned on NJN TV news. Keep watching your politico's, catch them with their pants down and report it to the press. Happy hunting! John Paff Commission delays decision on ex-judge, Imbriani's pension Published in The Home News & Tribune 8/22/97 By MICHAEL SYMONS STAFF WRITER SOMERSET COUNTY-- A Somerset County watchdog group is annoyed the State House Commission still has not decided whether a disbarred, former Superior Court judge will be allowed to continue re ceiving his pension. An activist group called Citizens for Justice in Somerset County wants the state to revoke the $78,204 pension paid to Michael R. Imbriani, who retired one month before he pleaded guilty to theft in June 1994. Imbriani, 68, a former Somerset County prosecutor who once headed the criminal division of the Superior Court in Somerville, has since been banned from the judiciary and permanently disbarred. When Imbriani was disbarred by the state Supreme Court in June, officials including Peter McDonough, then a spokesman for Gov. Christie Whitman, said the pension decision would probably be made at the next commission meeting, which was held Monday. But the issue -- potentially embarrassing for Whitman, a Somerset County political veteran -- now will not be decided until the commission's next meeting in late November or early December, following the gubernatorial election. Treasury Department spokesman Dan Emmer said Imbriani's pension was not considered by the State House Commission on Monday because the issue requires more research by state pensions officials. "The Division of Pensions and Benefits was in the process of gathering information for the commission," Emmer said. "Apparently there are a lot of federal issues involved, and they just need more time." But Bridgewater resident Linda Dawson, secretary of the Somerset County activist group, says the state is squandering money by purposely taking its time to render its decision. "Almost a quarter-million dollars have been paid to this thief, and the State House Commission is still twiddling its thumbs," Dawson said. "Obviously, somebody's been protecting Mike Imbriani and his nest-egg for over three years now." The State House Commission includes seven members, including Whitman, the state treasurer, the director of the Office of Management and Budget and four state legislators. It handles a range of topics that includes the Judicial Retirement System. Sen. John A. Lynch, D-Middlesex, Union, is one of the legislators on the commission. But he recused himself from the issue in September 1995 because of a conflict of interest, said Kathy Krotty, executive director of Lynch's Senate Minority Office. "Back in September of '95, Senator Lynch recused himself from any decision because he has known Judge Imbriani and had a professional relationship with him over some 20 to 30 years," Krotty said. Imbriani is a registered Democrat. The former judge's annual pension has been increased by a cost-of-living adjustment to $78,204, said Treasury Department spokeswoman Mary Lou Murphy. The Division of Pensions and Benefits will not recommend whether Imbriani should keep his pension, she said. "They get information from us about his pension, and then they will made the decision based on things like past court cases," Murphy said. "We're not going to tell them either way what they should do." Imbriani pleaded guilty to a reduced theft charge after he was accused of diverting $173,000 from the Community Medical Arts Building in his hometown, Bound Brook, without informing his business partners. Imbriani said he took the money to pay college tuition bills for his five children, and he wanted to remain a lawyer to work with his three children who are now lawyers. Imbriani paid his former partners restitution and performed 300 hours community service on the theft charge, then pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion and served two months in a prison camp in Allenwood, Pa. Imbriani has said that he expects his pension will not be affected. --end