This judge is tough as nails —unless he’s worried about a felon’s immigration status.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Abraham Clott, known for his hefty sentences to criminals, tried to block photographers from shooting a woman who stole nearly $35,000 from Victoria’s Secret because he feared it might get her deported.
After Rosanna Grullon pleaded guilty to a felony as part of a no-jail deal Thursday, her defense lawyer spotted a shutterbug in the hallway and urged Judge Clott to order that her photo not be taken.
The judge, who sent rapper Bobby Shmurda’s codefendant to prison for 117 to 130 years, is also known for his liberal photography policy in the courtroom.
But on this occasion, Clott tried to extend his authority to the public hallway, where news photographers in Manhattan Supreme Court are generally permitted to shoot freely.
“Is there any reason to take her picture other than to get her deported?” he asked a reporter before suspending court proceedings for more than 20 minutes as he made numerous phone calls in open court, asking supervisors whether he could extend a privilege to Grullon that is unavailable to the hundreds of routine defendants who enter the court daily.
Lawyers groused in the gallery over the delay while the judge had more than 80 defendants to see.
His final call to administrative Justice Ellen Biben settled the matter. He hung up the phone and told defense lawyer Carlos Cruz Jr., “There’s nothing I can do.”
But that wasn’t really all. Judge Clott then let Grullon, who is from the Dominican Republic, plead guilty to third-degree grand larceny in a deal that calls for no punishment when she’s sentenced June 8. She doesn’t even have to do community service or pay restitution.
Grullon also will not have to report to probation officials, a fairly routine plea requirement that could have raised red flags to immigration officials.
The Bronx mom pilfered $34,677 in panties from two uptown Victoria’s Secret shops on eight occasions in 2015 before she was busted, court records show.
The Victoria’s Secret heist wasn’t Grullon’s first brush with the law. She has several shoplifting convictions from New Jersey, prosecutor Ashley Stein said at her arraignment. She also was sentenced to two years probation for a more serious theft case in the Garden State, the prosecutor said.
Her exact immigration status isn’t clear.
Immigration lawyer Steven Pugliese, who is not involved in Grullon’s case, said that a grand larceny conviction involving an amount greater than $10,000 could lead to the deportation of legal residents as well as undocumented immigrants.
“She’s a person that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) would likely target,” he said. “She has a serious felony conviction and other misdemeanors in other jurisdictions.”
Grullon’s son, Christopher Duran, was gunned down May 22, 2015, in the Bronx by members of the “6 Wild” gang. The 14-year-old was allegedly a member of rival gang, “280 Crew.” She has two other teen sons.