Former New York State Senator George Maziarz pled guilty to the misdemeanor charge of offering a false instrument for filing. Maziarz will not serve any jail time or probation, but has been sentenced to a $1,000 fine plus court costs. Barry Covert spoke to WIVB about the misdemeanor charge and what that means for Maziarz. The full story is available on the WIVB website and by watching the video below.
Pass-through scheme
According to WIVB, Maziarz used money from his campaign committee to make campaign payments to Glen Aronow, a former Senate staffer. WIVB reports that Aronow left government service after charges of sexual harassment surfaced but that Maziarz wanted to continue using his services without public knowledge.
Maziarz still held liable
Mr. Covert told WIVB that being charged with a misdemeanor rather than a felony “does not absolve him of liability.”
“He committed a crime,” Mr. Covert explained. “He admitted now to committing all of the elements of the offense. So now he is a convicted criminal, but he’s not a convicted felon and he avoided jail time. He avoided probation.”
Mr. Covert went on to say that Maziarz has “a certain taint or cloud because he’s admitted to filing a false instrument” but that “from a defense lawyer’s point of view, they did a fantastic job of reducing the offense and limiting his exposure.”
About Barry N. Covert
Mr. Covert is a senior partner in Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria’s Criminal Defense Trials and Appeals Practice Area. He is known for his aggressive representation of clients in the areas of New York State and federal criminal trials and appeals; driving while intoxicated; constitutional law, including First Amendment, civil rights actions, and federal False Claims Act; defending against allegations of scientific misconduct and fraud, research misconduct and fraud, plagiarism, and fabrication of evidence; and professional licensing defense. Mr. Covert frequently provides legal analysis for WGRZ and other media outlets.
