Judiciary
Ex-Florida Appeals Judge Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud in Stripper Case
A former appeals judge in Florida has pleaded guilty to bank fraud for lying about a stripper’s contribution to a down payment on a home.
Thomas Stringer had listed himself as the sole owner of a home in Hawaii, even though exotic dancer Christy Yamanaka had also contributed funds, the Associated Press reports. Yamanaka had told reporters last year that Stringer allowed her to hide money from creditors by allowing her to deposit money in his bank accounts.
Federal prosecutors are recommending probation and forfeiture of $222,000, the Tampa Tribune reports. He resigned from his judgeship after ethics charges were filed against him.
The plea agreement was filed last month in federal court in Tampa.
