Bail Bond Patriarch Gets 15 Months

(Updated: 7:13 p.m.) Robert Jacobs, patriarch of a powerful bail bond family brought down by a police corruption probe, asked a judge to sentence him for his sons’ misdoings, too.

Robert Jacobs, of Branford, was the first of three bail bondsmen to be sentenced in New Haven U.S. District Court Tuesday as part of New Haven’s police corruption scandal.

The white-haired ​“Mr. Bobby,” now 81, is the head of a family that dominated the bail bonds industry in New Haven for decades. He appeared in court Tuesday with his sons Phil and Paul, all of whom were to be sentenced on charges that they paid bribes to former Lt. Billy White to track down clients who owed them money.

Jacobs appeared in court in a neatly creased suit and a blue collared shirt that matched that of his son, Phil. Addressing Judge Arterton, he made a dramatic effort to fall on his sword to save his two sons.

“What I regret most of all is what I have done to my family, especially my sons Phil and Paul,” Jacobs told the judge. ​“If it was not for me, they would not be in this court. I ask you, your honor, to sentence me for their actions, because I am the one who is most responsible.”

Jacobs was sentenced to 15 months in prison, a significant reduction from the 30 to 37 months he faced. He must pay a fine of $24,000, reflective of the amount the Jacobses paid in bribes to White and an undercover officer cooperating with the FBI.

The three Jacobses have all pleaded guilty to one count of federal conspiracy to commit bribery, as well as a supplemental information of criminal forfeiture. They agreed to a combined $750,000 forfeiture.

The prosecution, led by federal corruption-buster and acting U.S. Attorney Nora Dannehy (pictured at top of this story), recommended that Jacobs serve 30 to 37 months and pay a fine of up to $60,000.

Jacobs was represented by Attorney William Dow III, who pushed for home confinement for his aging client.

In a two-and-a-half-hour hearing, the defense tried to paint Jacobs as a generous, compassionate man who lived by values of an older era, where lines of ethical conduct were ​“blurred.” The octogenarian rested his hands on the podium, leaning forward at times as though straining to hear the words of the judge.

Jacobs is now barred from the New Haven courthouse where he worked for 55 years. Jacobs defined himself through his work, Dow said. His family’s convictions have spelled the end of their careers — all three Jacobses have lost their licenses to sell bonds.

Dow (pictured) urged diminished prison time because his client has already been burdened by the guilt of having ​“misguided” his two sons.

“I can’t think of anything more devastating than to look your children in the eye” after having encouraged them to join the business and stray from a straight-and-narrow path, Dow said.

An Offense That Served The Public Good?

Attorney Ira Grudberg (pictured), a friend of the Jacobs family, was one of a half-dozen supporters to speak up on Jacobs’ behalf in court. He practices law with the firm of Jacobs, Grudberg, Belt and Dow.

Following a speaker who gushed over how Jacobs was so loving that he let cats lick whipped cream off his nose, Grudberg took a decidedly more hard-nose approach with the judge. In an unusual line of argument, he contended that Jacobs’ offense was ​“different” because his goal was to accomplish a societal good — apprehending fugitives.

Judge Arterton interjected to object to his line of reasoning. She mentioned a federal judge in the 1930s who had argued that it was OK to take bribes for his decisions because those decisions were correct.

“That view was rejected,” Arterton said in a firm voice.

Grudberg admitted, apparently grudgingly, that what Jacobs did was ​“legally criminal,” but he continued to insist that the offense was ​“a significantly different animal” from other types of corruption. He retired to the galley, where he wiped tears as he watched his friend’s proceedings.

Danney, the federal prosecutor, had stronger words for Grudberg. She called his argument ​“simply wrong.”

“What this case represents is the ability of wealthy businessmen to buy a police officer,” said the prosecutor who put Gov. John Rowland behind bars. ​“Law enforcement arrest powers should never be for sale.” When they are, ​“we’re all in trouble.”

Jacobs’ wife Barbara sat quietly in a blue suit in the front bench next to her daughter. She retained composure while watching her husband and two sons end a court proceeding that has torn the family apart.

“I know them to be good men, and I hope you can show them mercy when you pass sentence to them,” she told the judge.

The Jacobses were among the last arrestees to be sentenced in New Haven’s police corruption scandal. White, the center of the probe, was given 38 months in prison. He is due to surrender to prison today. Former Detectives Justen Kasperzyk and Jose Silva were given 15 and 3 months sentences respectively for their role in framing drug suspects while on the now-disbanded narcotics task force.

Roberts Jacobs is due to voluntarily surrender himself on Sept. 3. His sons, Phil and Paul, were sentenced later Tuesday: Click here for a story on that.