Former Hillsborough Circuit Judge Thomas Stringer was sentenced in Tampa’s federal court last week for bank fraud. Stringer pleaded guilty to the charge in July and was sentenced to one year of supervised release.

Stringer, who also served as a Court of Appeal judge, reportedly engaged in a scheme to defraud a bank related to a mortgage loan. According to court documents, Stringer falsified his mortgage application for a home in Hawaii by claiming that he had borrowed none of his down payment, when in fact he had borrowed funds from a third party.

That third party, according to local media, was a New York stripper named Christy Yamanaka and the funds she provided to Stringer were being hidden from her creditors. The Hawaii residence was reportedly purchased for Yamanaka in Stringer’s name.

Stringer resigned from the bench when this investigation became known. The Tampa U.S. Attorney’s office noted that the conduct that forms the basis for this criminal charge was completely unrelated to Stringer’s previous occupation as a judge. A state ethics complaint against Stringer was dropped when he resigned from the court.

The U.S. Attorney also noted that the loan in question was re-paid in full.

Also See:

• Former Hillsborough Judge to Plead Guilty to Bank Fraud

White Collar Crimes

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