Socialite's Son Faces Criminal Charges

Appeal will argue that holdout juror was intimidated

(NEWSER) - Anthony Marshall was innocent, a juror in the trial of Brooke Astor's son says now, but she voted to convict him because she felt threatened by another juror. Her statements, along with some 60 emails sent among the jurors, form the basis of an appeal the defense will file today. Judith DeMarco says that Yvonne Fernandez was hostile during deliberations, made threatening comments, and flashed what she thought were gang signs, reports the New York Times . More»

Robert Morgenthau, 90, leaves office this week

(NEWSER) - In 35 years as Manhattan DA, Robert Morgenthau has gotten along with every mayor of New York—except the current one. Mike Bloomberg, says Morgenthau, "doesn't want anybody around who doesn't kiss his ring, or other parts of his body." In a wide-ranging interview with the Wall Street Journal , the 90-year-old, who leaves office Thursday, addresses everything from his feud with the mayor to the international crimefighting role his office has played during his tenure. As usual, he pulls no punches: More»

Anthony Marshall gets minimum sentence for fleecing mom

(AP) - The 85-year-old son of philanthropist Brooke Astor was sentenced today to one to three years in prison for exploiting his mother's mental frailty to plunder her millions. Anthony Marshall received the minimum allowed under sentencing guidelines. The judge gave him 30 days to get his affairs in order, but Marshall might be able to stay free on bail even longer while his expected appeal proceeds. More»

(NEWSER) - Brooke Astor's son owes his lawyers nearly $5 million in legal fees, and he's apparently having trouble paying up. Attorneys for Anthony Marshall—convicted this week of fleecing his philanthropist mother on her deathbed—filed papers saying he owes $4.7 million, a figure that could double in the appeals process. He stopped paying upfront in December. Wife Charlene, meanwhile, is on the hook as guarantor of the debt, reports the New York Post. More»

Offspring swindled socialite, jury finds after lengthy trial

(NEWSER) - After a sensational 19-week trial, Brooke Astor's son was found guilty today on 16 of the 18 counts against him, including grand larceny and conspiracy. The 85-year-old will be sentenced on Dec. 8 and faces up to 25 years. The jury deliberated for 12 days before finding that the legendary socialite and philanthropist's only child had defrauded her of a hefty chunk of her $185 million fortune. Astor, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died in 2007 at 105. More»