A federal grand jury has indicted a Setauket man for allegedly filing fraudulent liens against three Suffolk County judges and an attorney in retaliation for losing his home in foreclosure, authorities said.
Jerry Campora, Jr. pleaded not guilty Wednesday at Central Islip federal court to eight counts of mail fraud. Judge Joanna Seybert set his bail at $50,000.
“We will continue to aggressively identify and pursue those who would manipulate the judicial system through private vendettas in the hope of causing financial hardship to public servants with whom they disagree,” said Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
Prosecutors said after the 46-year-old man lost his home while representing himself in a foreclosure proceeding, which began in 2010, he filed fraudulent affidavits through the mail with the Lamar County Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Barnesville, Ga. He then used the affidavits to file liens purporting that each of the four victims owed Campora more than $1.5 million, according to investigators.
The attorney was a court-appointed referee in one of the foreclosure proceedings.
Seybert also ordered Campora not to file any liens or affidavits in other jurisdictions without the prior approval of the court.
If convicted, Campora faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million on each of the eight counts.
