Pubdate: Fri, 13 Aug 2004
Source: Times-Picayune, The (LA)
Copyright: 2004 The Times-Picayune
Contact:  http://www.nola.com/t-p/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/848
Author: Gwen Filosa
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

LAWYER, EX-DRUG COURT WORKER INDICTED

Fraud Charges Spring From Alleged Bribery

A New Orleans defense lawyer and a former drug court counselor were
indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday on charges of computer fraud
involving an alleged bribery scheme that offered freedom to
probationers in exchange for cash.

To carry out their scheme, Glenda Spears, 46, and Angela Kirkland, 45,
entered false information into the Orleans Parish Criminal District
Court's computer system and recommended judges release certain
probationers who had paid them off, prosecutors said.

It was part of a scam aimed at getting cash from probationers who
faced court-ordered drug testing or other conditions of their
probation, the grand jury found.

Spears is the sister of lawyer and former Judge Ike Spears, and the
sister-in-law of 1st City Court Judge Sonja Spears. She and Kirkland
are due in federal magistrate court Aug. 23.

According to the indictment, the scam began with Kirkland, a former
drug court counselor, allegedly urging probationers in drug court to
hire Glenda Spears as their lawyer "if they wanted to be released from
probation."

Spears would charge a fee to each probationer in order to obtain his
or her release, and then give half of the bribe to Kirkland, the
charges said. Kirkland, in turn, allegedly recommended to a judge that
the probationer be released. The federal grand jury said the criminal
activity took place from Nov. 1 to Dec. 10.

"Both state and federal court judges routinely follow the
recommendations of probation officers whom they believe are acting in
good faith," said acting U.S. Attorney Jim Letten, who thanked the
parish court for tipping off his agency about the alleged scheme.

Spears faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of
$500,000 if convicted. Kirkland faces up to five years in prison and a
$250,000 fine if found guilty.

Neither has had an opportunity to enter a plea to the felony charges.

Spears, a criminal defense attorney who recently began working for the
local public defender's office, resigned from that job Thursday. Her
brother, Ike Spears, is on the board of directors for the Orleans
indigent defender's office, where his sister worked.

Her attorney, Jason Williams, said Thursday that Spears has cooperated
with federal agents and would continue to do so. "Ms. Spears regrets
her role in this unfortunate incident," Williams said in a prepared
statement. "From the moment she learned of the investigation, she has
fully cooperated with the authorities. In view of the federal
investigation, Ms. Spears felt it was in the best interest of all
parties that she resign her position."

It was unclear Thursday whether Spears, a familiar sight at Tulane and
Broad, would continue to practice law as the case proceeds. Her
attorney would answer no questions, other than to say she will
continue cooperating with the government.

Kirkland's attorney, Ron Rakosky, did not return a call Thursday for
comment.

Until recently, Kirkland ran the drug court program in Chief Judge
Calvin Johnson's courtroom at Orleans Parish Criminal District Court,
as an employee of the court. She was a case manager to probationers,
had close contact with them and had a certain amount of influence over
their cases.

Drug court is a program that offers probation and treatment to certain
offenders instead of jail time.

Johnson said court officials contacted the U.S. attorney's office
after probationers complained that "something was afoot."

The five-page indictment mentions no names of probationers or dollar
amounts of the alleged bribes. It offers one instance of Spears
allegedly taking money from a probationer on Nov. 15 and again on Nov.
26. Kirkland recommended that probationer be released from probation
sometime between Nov . 26 and Dec. 5.

The charges violate federal computer fraud law. The computer system
used at Tulane and Broad, known as the docket master system, provides
case numbers, defendants' names, charges, court minutes and other key
information related to each charge that prosecutors bring into the
building.

Because the system is used by city officials and by officials in
others states, "affecting interstate commerce," the computer is
protected under federal law, the indictment said.

Spears and Kirkland are accused of putting false information into the
computer "in order to release a person from probation for the personal
gain of something of value."
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