Former Judge Sentenced To

Probation For Lying To FBI

HARTFORD (AP) — A former judge who lied to FBI agents about his financial dealings with a convicted felon was sentenced to probation last Friday and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.

Former state Superior Court Judge Daniel Brennan, Jr, was accused of borrowing money from William A. Trudeau, Jr, a former client of his law practice, and writing a fraudulent invoice to help disguise his finances from federal authorities.

Brennan originally told FBI agents that he had never received a loan from Trudeau.

In a plea agreement, Brennan admitted in January to accepting a $10,000 loan from Trudeau.

The federal judge in his case said Friday he considered a sentence of home confinement, but said Brennan, who suffers from heart ailments and lupus, is already confined to his home.

“It would almost be silly of me to think that sentence had any meaning,” said US District Court Judge Robert N. Chatigny.

In February 2001, Trudeau pleaded guilty to charges of failure to account for and pay over employee taxes and interstate wire fraud.