Hudson Valley Judge Faces Up to 30 Years in Prison

A judge from the Hudson Valley may receive up to 30 years in jail after she admitted to wrongdoings.

On Thursday, Lurlyn A. Winchester, a former Justice for the Town Court of Monroe, pleaded guilty in federal court to making a false statement and obstruction of justice.

In November 2013, Winchester was elected Town of Monroe Justice. Under New York law, she was required to live in Monroe in order to be eligible to hold the Town of Monroe Justice position.

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Winchester, 59, admitted to making false statements in an application for a loan she obtained to purchase a residence in Monroe and obstruction of justice for providing FBI task force members, who were questioning her about her mortgage loan, with false documents, including fabricated rent payment receipts.

“As she admitted in court today, Lurlyn Winchester, in an attempt to fraudulently satisfy a residency requirement for a judgeship, lied and provided fake documents to secure a mortgage," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said. "She then lied to FBI task force officers and provided them with fake documents in an attempt to cover up that crime. Winchester’s lack of integrity and honesty did not merit a term on the bench. Her crimes will likely earn her a term in prison.”

The first charge of making false statements to a mortgage lending business carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Falsifying records in a federal investigation, with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence the investigation or proper administration of any matter within the jurisdiction of a federal department or agency, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Winchester is scheduled to be sentenced in August.