Businessman gets 18 months in schools bribery (Maryland)

Baltimore Sun ^ | August 25, 2005 | Lynn Anderson

[enots]

Gilbert Sapperstein apologized yesterday for his role in a scheme to steal more than $3.3 million from the city school system - but the grandfather and businessman received little sympathy as he was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

"I made a mistake, and I embarrassed my family," said Sapperstein, who pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy, bribery and theft. In a plea deal with the state prosecutor's office, Sapperstein, 72, a Green Spring Valley resident and owner of All State Boiler Service Inc., also agreed to pay back the stolen money.

Baltimore Circuit Judge John M. Glynn snapped back at Sapperstein: "It's not sufficient to say it was a mistake. It's a crime ... and that's why you are going to jail."

Sapperstein admitted to paying bribes to a city schools employee in exchange for fraudulent work orders that netted the business owner millions of dollars in extra revenue.

In court yesterday, he wrote checks to those he wronged, including city schools Chief Executive Officer Bonnie S. Copeland. She collected $3.5 million for the system, the sum stolen plus 6 percent interest. The check to the city Department of Public Works totaled $138,084, the sum Sapperstein stole from that agency as part of a similar scheme involving inflated work invoices.

[enots]

I'm the Donald Stone mentioned in the article.

I've personally tried for 12 years to put Sapperstein and his associates in prison and never had any luck.

I was in the court house on the 25th and it was a tremendous pleasure to see Sapperstein in handcuffs !!!!

Gilbert Sapperstein and his son Mark are close personal friends and political cronies of Maryland's top state law enforcement officer, Maryland attorney General, Joseph Curran Jr. (who is also the father-in-law of Baltimore Mayor, Martin O'Malley)

MD.Attorney General, Joseph Curran Jr. is one of the top Democratic political operatives in Maryland and the Eastern seaboard.

Sapperstein's other crime syndicate associate Charles R. Longo had succesfully defrauded the U.S. Dept. of Education out of an estimated $8 million in student loans and 2000 documented victims in Maryland & Virginia.

Conspicously absent at Sappersteins' sentencing were his good buddies Joseph Curran Jr. and Martin O'Malley to testfy that their good buddy Sapperstein "is a stand-up guy"

Gilbert Sapperstein looks good in handcuffs. (LOL)

Video tape footage here:

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/4892499/detail.html

[enots]

Thought you would enjoy this article.

I drove from FL. to MD. (2000 mile round trip)to be at Gilbert
Sapperstein's sentencing.

I had a motion filed with the court to make a victim impact statement at the time of sentencing but the judge quashed my ,motion and then struck it from the record.

[steel_resolve]

Congrats! Looks like this will be a weekend of celebrations for you!

[RexBeach]

Crimes in Maryland are always "mistakes". What a loser. Always sweet to see a schmuck and a crook in cuffs.

Good work!

[Landru]

"Thought you would enjoy this article."

Thanks Don.
I *would've* enjoyed the article, but for the fact one must register with the Sun-rag to access their website?
I can't, ain't gonna happen my friend.

Any way you can relate the salient point(s), instead?

"I drove from FL. to MD. (2000 mile round trip)to be at Gilbert Sapperstein's sentencing."

Yes, and rightly so.
This has been a long time coming, hasn't it.
Personally I happen to feel 18mos for a thief of this maggot's magnitude is quite a joke as sentences go.
I suppose it's better than nothing, though.

"I had a motion filed with the court to make a victim impact statement at the time of sentencing but the judge quashed my motion and then struck it from the record."

Hmmmm, wonder why?

Y'know the thief *apologized* & in spite of the judge's tough sounding words, methinks Sapperstien will be out either before years end, or, shortly thereafter.
There's a *smell* of fix all about this.

OBTW didn't this thief take you for a respectable amount of dough?
What's become of *that* little matter?

In any event my friend, savor the moment.

...this Bud's for you. ;^)