Jimmy Pickerstein was the lawyer a variety of white collar offenders throughout the decades hired to cut a plea deal in federal court. On Thursday, the former top federal prosecutor in Connecticut entered a guilty plea in federal court in Bridgeport to stealing money from a mobbed-up client. Representing Pickerstein are two of Connecticut’s top criminal defense attorneys, Andrew Bowman and Willie Dow.
As a federal prosecutor Pickerstein put away Hells Angels member Danny Bifield and officials in Mayor John Mandanici’s administration, as a defense attorney he represented Paul Pinto, the bag man in Joe Ganim’s corruption case.
From Dan Tepfer, CT Post:
The state’s former top federal prosecutor, H. James Pickerstein, pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing more than $600,000 from a convicted Danbury mobster.
“I did engage in the conduct set forth and I accept complete responsibility for this conduct,” the 69-year-old Pickerstein told U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden in a booming voice previously reserved for putting away some of the state’s most nefarious criminals.
Under a plea agreement, Pickerstein, who pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, could face up to 40 months in prison and a $250,000 fine, but his lawyers, Andrew Bowman Andrew Bowman and William Dow III, have the right to argue for a lesser sentence.
The date for the sentencing hearing has not been set, and Pickerstein is free until then.
Full story here.
*** They’ll go easy on him because money talks and he was one of them at one time. *** WHITE COLLAR JUSTICE ***
Wasn’t he a member of Ganim’s defense team?
Pickerstein represented Paul Pinto.
Lennie–am I correct that Pickerstein is Pinto’s stepfather?