U.S. Judge Linked To âFixedâ Tax Case
By Marcia Chambers
Sen Govt Operations Com subcom on investigations is questioning circumstances under which Fed-city undercover investigation of organized crime in NYC garment dist was abruptly ended about 9 mos ago; key man in investigation, called Project Cleveland, is Herman Goldfarb, who served 20 mos in state prison after pleading quilty to grand larceny and forgery; Goldfarb approached law enforcement authorities with plan by which he could expunge his criminal record; in Feb '73, he agreed to become pres of trucking co set up by Fed and city officials for purpose of penetrating crime; equipped with recording device, Goldfarb is said to have gathered information that incriminates Fed judge, 2 leading NYC politicians and serveral union officials; operation was ended last yr by Justice Dept; William I Aronwald, chief of Joint Strike Force against Organized Crime for Southern Dist, says only reason inquiry was ended was because undercover agent's life was in danger; says decision was made by FBI, NYC Police Dept, IRS and Justice Dept and no pressure was ever exerted to end investigation because it uncovered pol corruption; also says he had asked that Lt David Durk, key police official in case, be reassigned because Durk had turned over confidential police repts to members of media; Police Dept spokesman says no charges are being brought against Durk; 1 of men accused of crimes by Goldfarb is US Dist Ct judge in Bklyn who is said to have given suspended sentence to convicted income tax evader, despite opinion of 2 fellow judges that offender be given prison term; defendant in the case testified before grand jury, which also heard testimony from 2d man who was alleged intermediary in case; Times knows identity of judge in tax case and of trucking co, but names will not be reptd because Sen subcom and Fed grand jury are still investigating accuracy of Goldfarb's allegations; Judge Jacob Mishler, Chief Judge of Eastern Dist, 1 of 2 judges who recommended prison term for tax evader, and 1 of few officials to have examined documents in case, reaffirms that there was 'no communication between Southern Dist and Eastern Dist' over the matter