A federal jury took quick work on Friday afternoon to convict former State Senator Dennis Bradley of five counts of wire fraud and single count of conspiracy connected to his 2018 run for the state legislature in which he endangered his announcement at Dolphin’s Cove when he “created a smokescreen” according to the government to pretend the party was a “thank you” event for his law firm, financed by his own money and then falsifying donation cards when he knew he was in trouble to make it appear legitimate.
Sometimes it’s the cover up, not the act in his attempt to qualify for a $180,000 public campaign grant.
As a moment this comes under an unfortunate waste of talent, a gifted public speaker who rationalizes every decision he makes as justification for his actions, damn the consequences.
In the short term, likely within six months or so, Bradley will lose his Connecticut law license based on this conviction, a blow to his livelihood. In the longer term, likely this summer, he’ll be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden whose history is not harsh to first-time, non-violent offenders, so may not do much time, certainly young enough for a professional and political comeback with ambitions to be Bridgeport mayor, now on hold.
Certainly, Bradley and his losing lawyer Darnell Crosland, will file an appeal after claiming prior to the trial he will be vindicated. For them a work in progress, for Bradley a sad venture into the unknown.
This all started when I advanced a story in late February of 2018 about Bradley’s March 15 announcement at Dolphin’s Cove for state senate, the information provided by Bradley.
See below:
City politics requires a sense of humor. School board member Dennis Bradley has set March 15, the Ides of March, to announce his formal candidacy for State Senate. Hmmm, will Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius show? Please, someone hide the daggers.
On March 15, 44 BC, Brutus and dozens of conspirators, so the story goes, plunged daggers into Caesar during a meeting of the Senate. And you think Bridgeport politics requires a sturdy heart? Reminds us of the legendary line from OIB friend Philip L. Smith:
“Some towns play political softball, other towns play hardball … in Bridgeport they play hand grenades.”
Bradley’s announcement is scheduled to take place March 15, 6 p.m. at Dolphin’s Cove Restaurant, 421 Seaview Avenue in the East End.
As Bradley notes, “the day marked by history as Caesar’s pride and destruction will mark Bridgeport’s humbleness and rebirth. For God will take the stone that was discarded and use it as His cornerstone … Bringing the classics back to Bridgeport politics. It’s about time we raise the bar.”
As a lawyer, Bradley knows something about raising the bar. Two years ago, as the endorsed Democrat, he came up short in a primary against incumbent Ed Gomes who’s not seeking reelection to his State Senate seat representing the 23rd District that covers about two thirds of Bridgeport and a portion of western Stratford.
This time around Gomes is supporting his former legislative aide Aaron Turner who hopes to follow in his boss’s footsteps.
Unfortunately, Bradley had also promoted this as a “thank you” party to political operatives by his law firm, financed by his own money, in violation of candidates participating in Connecticut’s Citizens Elections Program of publicly financed races. The program was established to create an equal playing field to eschew outside influences.
If it was just financed by his own money outside of the public financing domain, not a big deal. When public dollars emerge, a different story.
Under federal subpoena, the government called me on Tuesday to testify the narrow scope of the story above to validate it was a campaign announcement, not something else Bradley contrived, after the fact.
“…but they have other ways of looking at things as they select the puzzle pieces.”
This is when having experienced and capable representation comes in handy. Darnell Crosland doesn’t fit the mold. The fact that the jury spent less time deliberating than it took Lennie to sit on the stand getting called a liar, speaks of Darnell Crosland’s legal ineptitude. Dude, stick to ambulance chasing.
During closing argument, Crosland stated the prosecution had not proven the wire fraud charges. I agree! However, Crosland’s theatrics did nothing to hammer any doubt into the mind of the jury in regards to the wire fraud charges.
The sad thing is at the time I think Dennis Bradley could have won that election playing by the rules.