‘Gun’ briber guilty
A former Brooklyn prosecutor was found guilty Tuesday of bribing cops to get gun permits for New Yorkers who should not have had them, including clients with records of domestic disputes, anger issues and DWI raps.
A federal jury didn’t buy John Chambers’ defense that he showered an exNYPD sergeant with gifts simply because the cop was one of the few people with whom he connected after transitioning from a woman to a man.
Chambers’ head dropped when the jury declared its guilty verdict on the first bribery count. The 63year-old Brooklyn gun lawyer then shook his head in disappointment as three additional guilty verdicts were read, including for conspiracy and honestservices fraud.
In total, he was convicted on four counts and faces up to 50 years in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 9, although he is expected to receive less than the max.
Chambers was one of several so-called arms expeditors to be charged by the feds in a widespread guns-for-bribes probe that has ensnared numerous ex-cops and forced major changes at the NYPD’s License Division. He was the first to take his case to trial.
Jurors said Chambers’ transgender defense had no impact except to make them concerned that he could face a tough time in prison.
“Compassion was expressed that it might be difficult for him serving a prison sentence, but it didn’t mitigate the facts,” one juror said.
“That was the only concern we had, but it didn’t mitigate it at all.”
Chambers’ lawyers said they will appeal.