H. Kenneth Schroeder

The Western District of New York has a serious corruption problem and it includes at least one federal judge.  Particularly, there is one magistrate judge that has been taking bribes and other kickbacks from law offices, businesses, and academic institutions.  H. Kenneth Schroeder is this judge.  Through a series of interviews with local professionals it was learned that this judge is responsible for many felonies and injustices in the federal district court in the western New York area.  The names of the interviewed professionals will not be revealed for safety and professional reasons.  Moreover, this interview process includes individuals who have worked directly and indirectly with Magistrate Judge Schroeder. 

Interview with an Attorney in the Buffalo, New York Area

Question:  How long have you known Judge Schroeder and how long have you known about these illegal behaviors that he has been participating in?

Response: I’ve known Judge Schroeder for over twenty years.  We worked together for many years in the same place.  When he became a judge he was thrilled and we supported him.  But this changed when he got a few years under his belt in the federal system.  What I mean is that he started using his authority to get money or other things that he wanted.  Our place of business had a case that was before him and rather than disqualifying himself or just acting fairly he contacted us and asked what we wanted done and literally started giving us price ranges for different dispositions.  He even had plans about how to hide this so that it wouldn’t be found out.  Crazy!

Question:  How much money do you know for sure that he has received from people or organizations?

Response:  A lot.  I can’t give you an exact amount, but I can say that it’s well over $500,000.  The school gives him under the table payments and other incentives all the time that are over $10,000 annually.  The guy has been on some mission to get all this money when he makes a lot already.  I don’t get it.  He has benefits, a nice salary, a credible career – well, kinda – and I don’t see why he'd do this stuff.  Law firms throw money at this guy like crazy too.  I know for sure that one law office gave him $30,000 to have motions granted and other decisions rendered in their favor.  The worst part is that it was a criminal case, not a civil one.  So, justice was bought in this instance for sure.  I’m sure he’s not the only one doing it.

Question:  Have you ever thought about reporting this to anyone?

Response:  It’s crossed my mind, but as you know these people in this area don’t give a shit about that stuff and when they find out about it all they do is ask for their cut.  As you know too, when you report stuff and let the public know about these things there’s a huge problem.  The problem is that this is the justice system we’re talking about – the federal justice system – and when it’s learned that judges and the other players are corrupt bad things happen.  People are fired, case are overturned, riots can happen.  So, there’s an insurance policy that the feds use for these things.  When they learn about this stuff and know that it can’t be hidden, what they do is just tell the assholes to retire or they’ll expose them.  It’s really messed up, man.  The feds will never make their system look corrupt to the public.  It’s taboo.  I hate it because it’s corrupted beyond belief.

Interview with a University Official in the Buffalo, New York Area

Question:  Can you describe what the ties are with Judge Schroeder and the institution?

Response:  Yes, he has been involved in our moot court and other lectures for us here and received payment for this.  He also is a graduate of the school and this gets the best of him at times.

Question:  What do you mean when you say “it gets the best of him at times?”

Response:  Well, he thinks that the school owes him something because he went here and is a judge now.  It’s really arrogant and childish.  He tries bossing us around all the time and interrupts us when we talk.  I hate it.  I think he’s a terrible judge and even worse of an educator.  There’re many law students who want to talk to him because of his status, and he totally exploits that.  Only if they knew what he really does and we can’t tell them because we’d get screwed.  So, everyone just lets it go and doesn’t say anything.  It’s not the education I want to give my students. 

Question:  Have you ever thought about reporting this to anyone.

Response:  All the time.  I just can’t, though.  I’d lose my job, be told I’m crazy and stuff like that.  Plus, think about what would happen to the law school.  It'd be ruined. 

Interview with a Businessman in the Buffalo, New York Area

Question:  How do you know Judge Schroeder?

Response:  We had a civil matter before him and we extended ourselves so that we didn’t deal with serious blowback.  First, we offered a large sum of money to have the case dismissed and Judge Schroeder came back with a higher number.  We paid it and got what we wanted, but it was nothing that we enjoyed.  The lawsuit that we were facing would've cost us much more and damaged our reputation. 

Question:  Is the first time you’ve ever done this?

Response:  I can say that it’s my first time and that I’m appalled by it.  To know that our justice system is shit and this man can do these things really turns my stomach.  I don’t know if he’s done it with anyone else, but the way he communicated with us makes me believe that this isn’t his first rodeo.  I still don’t believe it, but it’s true.  

Question:  Have you ever thought about reporting this?

Response:  It’s crossed my mind, but I would be implicating myself in something and I can’t do that.  I have a wife and kids.  How can I?  Also, I don’t think anyone would do anything about it if I did report it.  You know, the cops around here are shit and they’d just ignore it or probably kill me or something. 

            After the interviews, another person was willing to talk about this issue in the court system in the Western District of New York.  This was an individual who works in the courthouse with Judge Schroeder.  After being told that the interview was going to be published, the individual backed out of the interview.  However, a written note was given to this author that stated that there is more corruption going on in this court system and that it is not only Judge Schroeder doing this.  The note encouraged this author to keep investigating the judges, prosecutors, and federal street-level law enforcement organizations.  Nonetheless, these interviews all pointed into the direction that felonies were committed by Judge Schroeder and that nothing is done because of fear and other illegal behaviors being noticed by the interviewees.  The facts present a serious problem of malfeasance that is ongoing in the federal court system in Buffalo, New York and that the authorities who should intervene do not because of their known corruption and informal policies.