A Massachusetts judge accused of helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE has had $127,000 in legal fees paid by taxpayers, according to a report.
In addition, a court officer who was indicted along with the judge has benefitted from $2,500 in legal fees paid by the public, the report said.
Newton District Court Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph, 51, pleaded not guilty in April when she was arraigned in a Boston courtroom on obstruction-of-justice charges stemming from an incident that allegedly took place April 2, 2018.
Prosecutors claimed in court documents in April that Joseph, along with Court Officer Wesley MacGregor, 56, helped Jose Medina-Perez, a twice-deported illegal immigrant with a fugitive warrant for drunken driving in Pennsylvania, sneak out a back door – eluding agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — after he appeared in court to be arraigned on drug charges, according to MassLive.com.
Bianco says ‘Democrat policy is indefensible’ as GOP candidates top California governor polling
Pima County sheriff warns in NBC interview DNA tech issues in Nancy Guthrie case may take ‘months’ to resolve
Newsom weighs in on social media age restrictions, citing experience as a parent: ‘We need help’
FBI investigates criminal damage to federal ICE warehouse facility in Arizona
Hours After Publicly Appearing With Newsom, CA High Speed Rail Chief Arrested on Suspicion of Spousal Battery
Trump pulls endorsement from GOP lawmaker over alleged lack of support for administration’s tariff agenda
Is a Donald J. Trump Airport on Its Way? Big Move from Trump Family Suggests It’s Coming
The Sting: How a DEA Supervisor Was Caught Getting Non-Americans Into the Country as Fake Law Enforcement Assets, According to Court Docs
Nancy Guthrie disappearance fuels rise of ‘mom detectives’ swapping tips and losing sleep
Colombian nationals allegedly ran fake law firm, impersonated federal judges to defraud migrants out of $100K
Mamdani promotes NYC where ‘every family can afford a home,’ rips ICE’s ‘cruelty’ amid budget blowback
Trump reveals his ‘new hero’ Supreme Court justice after tariffs ruling
Trump raises global tariff to 15%
Trump torches ‘stupid’ AOC’s Munich showing, tees up fresh fight with progressive Democrats
Labor Dept deploys ‘strike team’ to California over $21B unemployment debt, fraud concerns
Medina-Perez, who had been barred from entering the U.S. until 2027, was caught by immigration officials about a month after the hearing. He is currently involved in deportation proceedings after previously being deported in 2003 and 2007, the Boston Herald reported.
After her indictment, Joseph was suspended without pay but filed an appeal to have her salary of $184,600 reinstated, the Boston Herald reported. MacGregor was being paid $83,344 a year but recently retired, the report said.
A crowdfunding site, meanwhile, shows that donors have pledged more than $60,000 to help Joseph pay legal bills, according to the Herald.
Taxpayers ceased picking up the tab for the judge when she was indicted, a court official told the newspaper. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Story cited here.
