Second Circuit Takes on ‘Bizarre’ Compassionate Release Row

Second Circuit judges on Thursday said they’re faced with a novel question: whether the defendant in a wire fraud scheme was entitled to compassionate release to avoid sentencing disparities with his co-defendants, whose cases have been decided by separate judges.

Federal prosecutors say a Manhattan federal judge abused his discretion when he granted compassionate release to Norman Seabrook, former president of the New York City Correction Officers Benevolent Association. He was convicted in 2018 of participating in a kickback scheme in which he steered millions of dollars of the union’s money into investments with Platinum Partners, a hedge fund owned ...