He’s a reputed enforcer for the Russian mob who feels like he just got shaken down by a federal judge.
Irate lawyers for Anatoly Golubchik accused the feds on Tuesday of “sandbagging” their client at the 11th hour.
They claimed prosecutors reneged on a November plea deal – and ultimately convinced Manhattan federal Judge Jesse Furman to bang Golubchik with a five-year prison sentence that was more than double what he previously agreed to in November when copping a plea to racketeering, money laundering, extortion and gambling charges.
Golubchik’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, afterwards called Furman’s sentencing ruling “ridiculous” and contended that the Manhattan US Attorney’s office pulled off “a bait-and-switch” to secure a conviction without going to trial. He said prosecutors “broke a promise” and that he would seriously think twice before ever cutting another plea deal with the office again.
“In 24 years of practice, I never had a judge impose a sentence so drastically different” than what was agreed to in a plea deal, said a fuming Lichtman, who plans to appeal the sentencing ruling.
A spokesman for Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara’s office declined comment.
The controversy stems around prosecutors last week suggesting Furman raise the recommended sentencing guidelines for Golubchik, saying they failed to factor the thug’s “leadership” role in the high-stakes gambling ring that drew A-list celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio and Alex Rodriguez.
Lichtman and his legal team spent more than an hour barking in court about how the feds broke their “promise. ” The comments appeared to infuriate Furman, who repeatedly reminded them that judges “don’t have to follow sentencing guidelines” and claimed that he would’ve upped the guidelines anyway because Golubchik was an “undisputed leader” of a criminal enterprise.
“Your argument is not only merit-less – but frivolous,” the judge fired back.
The November agreement suggested 21 to 27 months imprisonment for Golubchik, of Fort Lee, NJ. Furman raised the guidelines to 33 to 41 months – but even that wasn’t enough for the Ukrainian-born mobster in Furman’s eyes.
The judge hit him with a 60-month – or five-year – sentence. Furman even ordered the thug remanded into custody immediately, rejecting a request for him to voluntarily turn himself in so he could say “goodbye” to his nine-year-old daughter.
Golubchik – who previously agreed to forfeit $20 million and cash and property to the government – was fined an additional $75,000 as part of the sentencing.
Nahmad — who comes from an art-dealing clan whose collection includes 300 Picassos worth $900 million — is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday. Nahmad faces 12 to 18 months in prison under his plea agreement.
The feds say the ring was led by legendary Russian gangster Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, who helmed the operation from overseas. Already wanted for trying to fix skating competitions at the 2002 Olympics, he has eluded capture for years despite extradition attempts.