In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community, a husband and wife from Savona, New York, have been sentenced for witness tampering and obstruction of a court order. Mindy Konopski, 34, and her husband, Andrej Konopski, 29, were each sentenced to six months in prison and six months home detention by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford on December 31, 2015.
The couple was convicted of harassing and intimidating witnesses in the federal prosecution of Mindy Konopski’s brother Jonathan Fernandes. Fernandes was convicted after a jury trial in August 2015 of multiple drug charges relating to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine, as well as witness tampering. The investigation revealed that Mindy and Andrej Konopski confronted an individual they believed was cooperating against Fernandes in a threatening and intimidating manner.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Noto, who handled the case, the couple obtained a false statement from the individual that was later used in court documents filed by Fernandes. Noto stated that the couple’s actions were ‘a clear attempt to interfere with the administration of justice.’
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York State Police, and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department. ‘This case is a prime example of the importance of protecting witnesses and ensuring that those who attempt to intimidate or coerce them are held accountable,’ said Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.
The sentencings are the culmination of an investigation that was months in the making. Fernandes will be sentenced on January 8, 2016. In the meantime, the community is left to wonder how such a brazen attempt at witness tampering could have occurred.
As the Grimy Times continues to investigate this case, one thing is clear: the justice system will not tolerate those who attempt to undermine the rule of law.
In related news, Jonathan Fernandes’s sentencing is scheduled for January 8, 2016. Stay tuned to the Grimy Times for updates on this developing story.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant/Respondent Name: Mindy Konopski and Andrej Konopski
- Criminal Charges: Obstruction of a court order, Witness Tampering
- City and State: Rochester, New York
- Exact Date: December 31, 2015
- Sentence or Outcome: Six months in prison and six months home detention
- Dollar Amounts: N/A
Related Federal Cases
- Jasper Mills, Witness Tampering and Death Threats, New York, 2021 · New York
- Wall Street Firms, Financial Malfeasance, New York NY, 2023 · Florida
- Kenneth Thom, Investment Scam, New York 2023 · North Carolina
- Christopher Ferguson, Securities Fraud, New York 2020 · Ohio
- Christopher Ferguson, Scheme to Inflate Order Numbers, New York 2023 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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