In a turn of events within the legal system, New York Attorney General Letitia James and State Police Superintendent Steven G. James have unveiled the indictment of Jasper Mills, an Albany defense attorney. Mills, previously serving as an Albany County prosecutor, has been accused of tampering with a witness in a homicide case by sharing confidential information that led to threats and an eventual attack on the cooperating witness within a federal prison. The attorney now faces charges that may see him behind bars, challenging the very framework of integrity he once vowed to uphold.
According to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General, Mills was arraigned at Albany County Court on charges including Intimidating a Witness and Tampering with a Witness. The root of the charges laid against Mills stem from a violation of an Albany County protective order, which expressly forbade the sharing of discovery materials listing witness names in a trial about the gang-related murder of Shanita Thomas, dating back to January 2021. Mills' actions are condemned by the AG, who stated, "Witness intimidation corrupts our justice system and prevents victims of crimes from getting justice with a fair trial."
The protective order in question was issued to safeguard witnesses from gang-related retaliation, given the sensitive nature of the testimony involved. Despite this, Judge Roger McDonough revealed during the June 3, 2024 pre-trial conference that a witness list, inadvertently emailed to defense attorneys with the protective order attached, made its way into the wrong hands just days later, notably adorned with Mills’ distinctive markings. Following this breach, a cooperating witness, then in the general population at FCI Ray Brook, faced direct threats. Later, on September 8, 2024, despite being moved to protective custody, the same witness suffered an attack, which resulted in a hospital visit due to an infection from a shiv wound.
Unraveling the sequence of events, an investigation highlighted a critical error where a hard drive containing sensitive documents was delivered to the defendant, Vramir Branch, by Mills on April 8, 2024. These documents, the hard drive harbored, were in direct contravention of the court’s ruling, including detailed eyewitness accounts pertinent to the Thomas homicide. In her statement, Attorney General James reiterated, "I will not tolerate any illegal tactics that jeopardize criminal investigations and put New Yorkers at risk." Coupled with the evidence found on social media, the indictment of Mills casts a shadow on the sanctity of client-attorney privileges and the ethical responsibilities entrusted to legal defenders.
The gravity of the charges against Mills is not taken lightly. If convicted, Mills could face a sentence ranging from eight and one-third to twenty-five years in jail, reflecting the seriousness with which the New York justice system regards the safety of its witnesses and the integrity of criminal proceedings. The supplemental forces of Senior Counsel Mary Gorman and Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Kyriacou are leading the prosecution, showcasing the state’s commitment to upholding public integrity within its legal fabric.
