New Haven Independent

Robert, Phil and Paul Jacobs appeared in U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton’s courtroom on Church Street in connection with charges that they paid bribes to former Lt. Billy White to track down clients who owed them money.

All three pleaded guilty to one count of federal conspiracy to commit bribery, as well as a supplemental information of criminal forfeiture.

Robert Jacobs, 80, the white-haired scion of the family dynasty that has dominated the local bond business for decades, is considered to be the orchestrator of the scheme. The government, represented by federal prosecutor Nora Dannehy, recommended that he serve 30 to 37 months and pay a fine of up to $60,000.

Paul and Phil Jacobs each face a government-recommended sentence of 18 to 24 months and a fine of up to $40,000.

All three are scheduled to be sentenced on February 27.

“I paid money to William White, a police officer in New Haven, to aprpehend fugitives who were on bond to me or my sons, and I knew the payment was illegal,” Robert Jacobs told Judge Arterton. “When somebody was missing who we were actively looking for, William White would ask if it was worth apprehending him.”

Dannehey also submitted a motion to Judge Arterton to keep portions of the proceedings secret and the documents under seal. Judge Arterton granted the motion because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation into bribery and theft charges involving New Haven’s disbanded and soon to be reconstituted narcotics unit.

More details to follow later today.