Judge Dies of Apparent Suicide After Home Raided Amid Questions Over Ties to Strip Club Owner

A New York state judge was found dead of an apparent suicide this week, with subsequent reports noting that the State Supreme Court acting justice’s home had been raided by federal and state investigators late last month.

NBC News reports that John Michalski, 61, was found dead at his home in Amherst on Tuesday. In comments included in that report, Michalski’s friend and lawyer, Terrence Connors, said that he had spoken with the judge this past weekend as part of an extended meeting.

Following a reported suicide attempt in February of last year, Michalski had resumed his career in January. In March, per a regional report from Buffalo News, law enforcement personnel—including those with state police, the A.G.’s office, and the FBI—searched Michalski’s Amherst home. At the time, it was confirmed that no charges had been filed against Michalski or his wife, Susan.

The February 2021 incident was reported to have been preceded days earlier by word that authorities “wanted to question” Michalski regarding his relationship with a strip club owner and former client. That individual, Peter G. Gerace Jr., was arrested in Florida last year on allegations including drug and sex trafficking. 

This week, Connors told the New York Times that Gerace “was a client” of Michalski’s. However, Michalski “had no knowledge” of Gerace’s alleged crimes. Furthermore, Connors explained, investigators in the recent raid could have instead contacted him “for what they were looking for,” noting that he and Michalski would have cooperated with investigators as they had done previously.

Connors also noted that investigators participating in the raid were seemingly interested in information on a consignment business run by Susan Michalski, which is aligned with speculation surrounding initial reports on the search.

“It’s difficult to explain what a tragedy this is,” Connors told the Times of the judge’s death.

Complex has reached out to Connors, as well as Amherst police, for additional comment.