INVESTIGATIVE SERIES

The Insiders

Newsday exposed judges who had violated rules designed to ensure transparency and prevent corruption as they awarded lucrative court appointments to a network of politically connected insiders.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS: Sandra Peddie and Will Van Sant
The Insiders

The Insiders

Suffolk judges violated rules while awarding Oheka Castle owner and associates at least $600,000 of foreclosure work Insiders pocket $350G

Insiders pocket $350G

Twice what Nassau Democratic lawyer previously said he and Melius collected for overseeing building in foreclosure Where the money went

Where the money went

Judge awarded the most lucrative foreclosure cases to Oheka Castle owner and associates $638,000 in unreported fees

$638,000 in unreported fees

Judges awarded appointments to Nassau Democrats’ lawyer, firm Judge has links to Melius ally

Judge has links to Melius ally

Thomas Whelan’s ruling backed an effort by Melius to seize control of a company and name a close associate of the justice to its board Councilman didn’t disclose ties

Councilman didn’t disclose ties

Mark Cuthbertson sponsored and voted for a zoning change that would benefit Oheka Castle the same week he was working with Gary Melius on receiverships Overview

Reforms of court appointment process fail on LI

Newsday has found even routine oversight lacking and identified widespread rule violations and questionable court practices Feds probe Melius

Feds probe Melius after report on $900G in court fees

Federal agents are investigating Melius over Newsday reports that he and a network of his associates collected more than $900,000 in fees from state court appointments Judge seeks change

Judge seeks to end cronyism, abuse

The state’s chief judge moved to take political patronage out of the process in which judges appoint lawyers to carry out court directives

Photos: Key players

Read documents

See where the money went