A New York Supreme Court justice killed himself days after cops raided his house as his ‘really close’ friend – the nephew of Buffalo’s alleged top mob boss – faced federal charges of sex trafficking and bribery.
John L. Michalski, 61, was found dead at his home near Buffalo Tuesday morning, his lawyer says. The circumstances of his death remain unclear.
Authorities raided Michalski’s home on March 24. Law enforcement sources told The Buffalo News they were looking for evidence of tax crimes and that various other state agencies were looking into his professional and personal conduct.
Michalski tried to kill himself February 2021 by lying on train tracks in the middle of the night. He was hit by a freight train but survived with a serious leg injury.
That suicide attempt was the same day his friend, strip club owner Peter Gerace Jr., was arrested in Florida on charges including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, maintaining a drug involved premise and bribing a federal drug enforcement agent.
Michalski knew Gerace for decades and had done legal work for him. In 2006, he wrote a letter to a federal judge asking for a lower sentence after Gerace was convicted of wire fraud in connection with a telemarketing sweepstakes business.
The judge was named an acting state Supreme Court justice in 2006. He made $210,900 a year, according to a state salary database.
He is survived by his wife Susan and four adult children, one son and three daughters.
