Thomas J. Spargo

Thomas J. Spargo is an American former judge and disbarred attorney from the state of New York. Spargo is notable for having been removed from a state court judgeship in 2006, and for being convicted of federal attempted bribery and attempted extortion charges in 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/It-s-federal-prison-for-Spargo-559328.php|title=It's federal prison for Spargo|date=December 22, 2009|access-date=March 9, 2020|last=Gavin |first=Robert |website=Times Union}}{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/12/thomas_spargo_-.php|title=Thomas Spargo -- Bush Campaign Operative Turned NY Judge -- Gets 27 Months in Prison for Bribery, Extortion |work=Village Voice | last=Dwoskin | first=Elizabeth | date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025170211/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/12/thomas_spargo_-.php | access-date=March 9, 2020 |archive-date=2014-10-25 }}{{Cite web|url=https://dailygazette.com/article/2009/12/22/1222_judge|title=Former state Supreme Court judge sentenced to more than two years | The Daily Gazette|website=dailygazette.com|date=22 December 2009 }}

Spargo, who resides in East Berne, New York, was elected to the post of Berne Town Justice in 1999.{{Cite web|url=https://altamontenterprise.com/12242009/spargo-sentencing-spurs-sympathy-berne|title=Spargo sentencing spurs sympathy in Berne|website=The Altamont Enterprise}} A Republican, he is also "a former top election law attorney who went to bat in Florida for George W. Bush after the disputed 2000 presidential election". Spargo was elected to the New York Supreme Court (a trial-level court){{Cite web|url=https://moderncourts.org/programs-advocacy/judicial-article-of-nys-constitution/structure-of-the-courts/|title = Structure of the Courts}} in the Third Judicial District in 2001. While Spargo's chambers were located in Albany, New York, he heard Ulster County cases.

In 2006, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a determination that Spargo should be removed from the bench. The Commission found that Spargo had engaged in improper political activity in his 1999 campaign for Berne Town Justice.{{Cite web|url=https://altamontenterprise.com/Weekly%20Archives/2006/04-06-06/Hilltowns3.html|title=Hilltowns, April 6, 2006|accessdate=13 May 2023}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/01/nyregion/state-panel-recommends-ouster-of-judge-in-albany.html|title=State Panel Recommends Ouster of Judge in Albany|first=Lisa W.|last=Foderaro|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 1, 2006}} Spargo opted to accept the determination and did not appeal it to the New York Court of Appeals.{{cite news |author=Joel Stashenko |title=State Supreme Court Justice Spargo won't appeal removal from bench |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2006/03/27/daily44.html |access-date=13 May 2023 |work=Albany Business Review |date=31 March 2006}} Spargo was also barred from ever holding judicial office again in the state of New York.{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/08/former_ny_supre.php|title=Former NY Supreme Court Judge Convicted of Extortion | Village Voice|date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025200740/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/08/former_ny_supre.php|archive-date=2014-10-25}}

Spargo was indicted on federal corruption charges on December 10, 2008.{{Cite news|url=https://www.troyrecord.com/news/ex-judge-tom-spargo-indicted-by-feds-for-corruption/article_a240e07d-88c4-5284-9470-6317af5002d4.html|title=Ex-Judge Tom Spargo indicted by feds for corruption|first=Dave|last=Canfield|newspaper=Troyrecord|date=10 December 2008}} He was alleged to have sought bribes from attorneys who had cases in his courtroom; he allegedly did so because he needed money to pay legal fees in connection with judicial misconduct charges. On August 27, 2009, Spargo was convicted by a federal jury of attempted extortion and attempted solicitation of a bribe for pressuring a lawyer to contribute $10,000 to his defense fund. On December 21, 2009, he was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Spargo was also disbarred in December 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2009/2009_08941.htm|title=Matter of Spargo (2009 NY Slip Op 08941)|website=www.nycourts.gov}}