People v. Spinelli

81 Misc. 2d 273, 366 N.Y.S.2d 550, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2370
CourtNew York County Courts
DecidedMarch 6, 1975
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 81 Misc. 2d 273 (People v. Spinelli) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York County Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Spinelli, 81 Misc. 2d 273, 366 N.Y.S.2d 550, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2370 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1975).

Opinion

John A. Gallucci, J.

In accordance with the decision of this court, John A. Gallucci, County Judge, dated October 21, 1974, a hearing was held to determine whether evidence obtained from the defendant as a result of his appearance before the Department of Labor on April 11, 1973, pursuant to the subpoena duces tecum dated March 28, 1973, was obtained in violation of the defendant’s constitutional right against self incrimination.

The defendant argues that his Fifth Amendment privilege was violated and, therefore, the instant indictment should be dismissed since the evidence so obtained was presented to and considered by the Grand Jury which thereafter returned the indictment.

From the testimony elicited at the hearing, the court finds the following facts and conclusions of law:

[275]*275On August 21, 1972, Investigator Cunningham of the New York State Police arrested the defendant pursuant to a warrant of arrest for theft of services at the defendant’s business premises. At the time of the arrest, various items were taken from the defendant’s person, including Exhibit 4, a blue envelope addressed to the defendant, Albert Spinelli, from the New York State Department of Labor, Division of Employment, which contained a yellow card indicating that the defendant had been receiving unemployment insurance benefits for the period March 13, 1972, to and including August 21, 1972, as well as other records pertaining to the receipt of such benefits during the period stated, and Exhibit 5, an official Unemployment Insurance Claim Card bearing Social Security Account No. 066181790 in the name of A. Spinelli. The Social Security number on the claim card corresponded with the Social Security Account Number on the yellow card and other papers contained in Exhibit 4.

After the arrest, Investigator Cunningham examined the documents and it appeared to him that the defendant was collecting unemployment insurance benefits illegally since he was operating a gas station and garage at No. 142 N. Route 9W, Congers, New York, where the arrest took place. On August 22, 1972, Investigator Cunningham contacted the New York Office of the State Department of Labor by telephone and related his belief that the defendant was collecting benefits in violation of the law. He wanted to prosecute the defendant for such violation but was informed it was strictly up to the Department of Labor.

After receipt of the telephone call, Special Agent Fries of the Department of Labor was assigned to the case on August 22, 1972, or shortly thereafter, to conduct an investigation of the defendant as to his eligibility and entitlement for unemployment insurance benefits. Special Agent Fries reviewed Exhibit A, the summary of Investigator Cunningham’s telephone call of August 22, 1972, and thereafter contacted Investigator Cunningham. He received from the State Police the background information about the defendant, as well as various names and his Social Security account number. This information had been obtained from the defendant at the time of his arrest on August 21, 1972.

Special Agent Fries continued his investigation and checked records in the offices of the County Clerks of Rockland County and Westchester County. He also checked certain bank rec[276]*276ords of the defendant. Finally, in March 1973, he concluded that the defendant was probably receiving unemployment insurance benefits to which he was not entitled.

Accordingly, on about March 28, 1973, a subpoena duces tecum was served on the defendant by leaving it at his place of business with a young lady who turned it over to the defendant. It directed the defendant to appear on April 11, 1973, at the Department of Labor Offices in New York City to testify in an official proceeding pursuant to article 18 of the Labor Law and further directed the defendant to produce certain business records, to wit, payroll books, checkbook stubs and cancelled checks, cash receipt and cash disbursement books, and copies of income tax returns for the years 1969, 1970 and 1971. The subpoena stated that the purpose of the hearing was so that the department could "verify the number of employees and the amount of their remuneration in accordance with Section 575, subdivision 1, of the New York State Unemployment Insurance Law”. The subpoena duces tecum, on the reverse side, set forth various sections of the New York State Labor Law, including section 634, which provides, "Any person who refuses to allow the commissioner or his authorized representative to inspect his payroll or other records or documents relative to the enforcement of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor”.

Special Agent Fries stated that his purpose in having the subpoena issued was to compile documentation in order to ascertain whether the defendant was eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits and also whether he had received prior unemployment benefits improperly. It was the normal type of investigation.

In compliance with the subpoena, the defendant appeared at the Department of Labor Offices and brought with him certain records, namely, checks and check stubs. He was not given any Miranda rights nor was he informed in any way by anyone about his Fifth Amendment privilege against self incrimination. The Department of Labor has no rule, regulation or requirement that a witness subpoenaed to produce records and testify be so advised. The defendant was sworn and examined under oath by a Senior Investigator in the presence of Special Agent Fries. A transcript of the testimony was taken down by a stenographer. In answering questions propounded to him, the defendant made incriminating admissions to the effect that he had unlawfully received unemploy[277]*277ment insurance benefits during the period between July 1, 1972 and September 15, 1972, and that he had filed with the Department of Labor claim forms which were false.

The defendant testified at the hearing not only with respect to his arrest on August 21, 1972 and the seizure of papers and records from him by the State Police, but also as to the hearing held on April 11, 1972. He claimed that the papers and records were taken from a desk located in the office of his business premises and not from his person. In addition, he stated that on April 11, 1972, he advised Special Agent Fries and the Senior Investigator that he wanted to be represented by an attorney and also that he did not want to answer any questions on the ground that he would incriminate himself. He did this prior to being sworn and also during off the record conferences while the hearing was in progress. However, he was informed by the Senior Investigator that he had to answer or else be charged with a misdemeanor. He was also told that if he co-operated, he would not be prosecuted, the matter would go no further, whereas if he did not, he would be prosecuted. Thereafter, he answered questions and made admissions which he would not have, made except for the assurance given to him and also because of the threat of being prosecuted for a misdemeanor.

The court finds that the defendant was lawfully required to appear before and produce for inspection, the books and documents subpoenaed by the Department of Labor. The Department of Labor is charged with the duty of carrying out and enforcing the unemployment insurance provisions of the Labor Law. The requirement that an employer maintain and permit the inspection of his employment records is a legitimate statutory regulation for the public good.

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Related

State v. Carey Resources, Inc.
97 A.D.2d 508 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1983)
Veverka v. New York State Department of Labor
94 Misc. 2d 224 (New York Supreme Court, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
81 Misc. 2d 273, 366 N.Y.S.2d 550, 1975 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2370, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-spinelli-nycountyct-1975.