Caught Up in Stripper Scandal, Judge Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

Mitch Stacy

The Associated Press

August 07, 2009

A former Florida appeals court judge whose esteemed legal career ended amid accusations that he helped a stripper hide money from creditors pleaded guilty to bank fraud Thursday.

Thomas E. Stringer admitted that he lied about the source of funds for a down payment on a home in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. He had listed himself as the sole owner, even though he was jointly investing in the house with Christy Yamanaka, an exotic dancer with whom he was involved.

Prosecutor Robert O'Neill said the 65-year-old Stringer will not face prison time when he is sentenced later this year. No one sustained a loss from the crime and Stringer has cooperated with investigators, O'Neill said. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

Stringer declined to comment after the brief hearing.

Yamanaka, 49, went public with their relationship last year, telling reporters how Stringer let her put money she made into his bank accounts so that creditors to whom she owed hundreds of thousands of dollars wouldn't know she had an income.

The Judicial Qualifications Commission, which oversees judges in Florida, found probable cause to believe Stringer opened bank accounts in his name and let Yamanaka use them from 2003 to 2007 to hide assets. He was also accused of fraudulently listing himself as the sole owner of a home in Hawaii for her and accepting lavish gifts.

That prompted his resignation from the 2nd District Court of Appeal, the state appellate court for central Florida. The ethics complaint was then dropped.

As part of the plea agreement, Stringer won't face further federal charges related to the Hawaii home purchase. It remains unclear whether he'll face criminal charges related to other alleged crimes that arose from his relationship with Yamanaka.

Stringer spent more than three decades working his way up from an assistant state attorney to appeals court judge in the Tampa Bay area. In 2007, he was inducted into the hall of fame at his law school at Stetson University.