Convicted of vote-by-mail fraud in connection to the 2013 municipal elections back in June, Hoboken politico Frank Raia has been released from prison and will serve about three weeks of house arrest following a judge’s ruling.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
While Raia was unsuccessful in seeking a compassionate release back in March, U.S. District Judge William Martini ruled yesterday that he could return home and serve the remainder of his sentence there due to COVID-19 concerns.
“Due to the increased risk posed by a custodial term and the original reasons for a reduced sentence . . . a non-custodial sentence would be more appropriate,” Martini wrote.
“The crime here was non-violent and Defendant has otherwise been a highly productive, charitable member of his community,” the judge also said, noting that Raia is not a flight risk.
A May 6th brief from U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito argued that the FCI Fairton correctional facility, part of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, has only had two staff members test positive for the coronavirus and that no prisoners have tested positive.
Carpenito further states that Raia has been in a quarantine unit since April 28th and was scheduled to be released to home confinement on May 20th.
“In light of the foregoing, the Government respectfully submits that, in light of all of these circumstances, including Raia’s impending release to home confinement, he has not met his burden to show that there are ‘extraordinary and compelling’ reasons warranting a reduction in his sentence.”
Nevertheless, Martini ruled in favor of Raia’s release, indicating that Raia is only allowed to leave home to obtain medical necessities, leaving him in the same predicament most New Jerseyans are in due to emergency orders issued by the state – though parks have begun reopening over the past two weeks.
Raia’s house arrest concludes on June 1st, according to court documents.
The Grafix Avenger blog posted Martini’s ruling this morning.
Will Ravi be extolling the awesomeness of Pupie again? Interesting how that little clique with Ravi – Pupie and his operative are all in sync.
Will First Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco be extolling the awesomeness of his $10k political sponsor?
So much money jumped from Pupie’s pocket to Mikey’s the question is why.
Pupie ain’t talk’n and Mikey won’t either.
N’sync.
Gee, Stranger Things, you could ask the same questions of the founder of the faux Reformer Movement in Hoboken if she would extol the awesomeness of the same donor. You know, the one who supported Dawn and her crew when he supported her entry to Hoboken politics.
There’s video. If you’d like to see it, let me know and I’ll post it. It’s so much fun watching them campaign together,
I guess you would have to ask First Ward Councilman DeFusco why after he and his supporters paid and unpaid have been trying to leverage that video took $10K from from Pupie’s pocket and had him and his crew working the streets for him when DeFusco tried to become mayor? It wasn’t until Raia was convicted and the press published the staggering contributions Raia gave DeFusco did DeFusco make a show of giving an almost equivalent amount to charities one of which he ca political group controlled and endorsed him in effect giving money to himself.
The over a decade old video two people getting into an elevator is of little consequence to anyone except to a very few obsessed hate filled political junkies who this somehow makes feel better.
One very important fact is Michael DeFusco is still in public office and will undoubtedly be seeking another attempt at becoming Mayor. The question of DeFusco’s integrity, honesty or lack thereof and who is now financing his campaign of will again be put in front of voters.
I’m very happy for Pupie and his family